In the wake of Arsenal’s long-awaited first Premier League title triumph in 22 years, Arsenal supporters across southern Africa’s Botswana were briefly sent into a frenzy of celebration last week, after a forged official government notice circulated online claiming the country would declare a special public holiday to honor the club’s historic win. But the excitement quickly fizzled out when Botswana’s national government stepped forward to debunk the document, confirming that the announcement was entirely fabricated.
The counterfeit statement, which bore convincing official markings including the Republic of Botswana’s national coat of arms and an official stamp purportedly from the president’s office, claimed that President Duma Boko had approved the midweek holiday to recognize Arsenal fans’ “passion, loyalty and unwavering support” for the club. It declared Wednesday would be a paid day off for all public sector workers who supported the London-based side.
Botswana’s government quickly moved to shut down the rumor, sharing a screenshot of the forged notice on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, overlaid with large red text reading “FAKE”. In a accompanying post, authorities made the matter clear: “No, there is no holiday for Arsenal fans.”
Even before the official debunking, sharp-eyed football fans had spotted inconsistencies in the forged document that raised red flags. The fake notice was dated May 17, a Sunday — two full days before Arsenal’s title win was actually confirmed. The club secured the championship only last Tuesday, when their closest title contender Manchester City dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
The bizarre incident has sparked playful speculation across social media, with one X user joking that the prank was almost certainly orchestrated by a supporter of Manchester United, Arsenal’s long-time domestic rival, as a lighthearted trick to upset Arsenal’s fanbase in Botswana.