The notion of Wikipedia as a source of authenticated information is one which has taken a hit from time to time, as people sometimes find that various pages can be defaced, edited, or otherwise changed without the facts being verified.

Over the last few days, I’ve been reading a lot about Marouane Chamakh, the 24-year old Moroccan striker who has just signed for Newcastle United. Sorry, hasn’t done anything of the sort. Sorry, has just signed for Newcastle United… whoops, I mean he’s still at Bordeaux.

There appears to be a concerted effort by people to include the information that he’s off to Newcastle, but as yet no statement by either club that would indicate the same. Whether it’s legitimate transfer news that has not yet ‘broken’, or just someone playing with Wikipedia remains to be seen, but the story of the updates is quite interesting — and shows just what ‘legitimate’ users have to contend with on breaking news stories, when they try to separate out the updates that can be authenticated from those which are just speculation.

For a start (as at 24th June), there have been 189 edits to the page in the last two days, in comparison to 13 edits to the page in the previous two months.

But what have they had to say? Read on — it’s a laugh, as well as being an insight into the weird and wacky world of Wikipedia…

Well, the Newcastle United reference first appeared on the 22nd:

He has agreed on a three-year deal with Newcastle United Football Club on June 22, 2008 and will be unveiled on July 1, 2008.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 15:46 22 June 2008

Three hours later, this was downgraded to:

It is reported Newcastle United are interested in signing him.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 18:35 22 June 2008

Three minutes later, the transfer was virtually off:

It is reported Newcastle United are interested in signing him but it is highly unlikely that any deal will be made this summer.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 18:38 22 June 2008

But before seven o’clock, the deal had been resurrected:

He has agreed on a three-year deal with Newcastle United Football Club on June 22, 2008 and will be unveiled on July 1, 2008.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 18:47 22 June 2008

Then a slightly less useful comment appeared to replace the Newcastle bit:

Bot Bot Bot!Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 18:59 22 June 2008

The Newcastle reference was removed, and then it returned, again watered-down:

Chamakh has recently been strongly linked with a move away from France, with Newcastle United apparently leading the chase for the highly sought after forward.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 19:03 22 June 2008

…but the Chamakh to the Toon brigade were not to be dissuaded:

He has signed for Newcastle United and will be unveiled on 1st July.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 19:30 22 June 2008

The ‘Geordie Massive’ were quickly in effect with possibly the most humorous post:

He has signed for Newcastle United and will be unveiled on 1st July and will be joined by Cristiano Ronaldo who has told Ferguson today he’s changed his mind about Madrid and opted for Toon because he’s wants to learn from Milner.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 19:48 22 June 2008

For a few hours (once this bit had been removed), all was quiet, until:

But he is not good enough for Newcastle UnitedWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 22:44 22 June 2008

It was then silent on the subject of Chamakh and Newcastle United until with considerable insight, someone added:

NOBODY IS SURE WHETHER HE PLAYS FOR NEWCASTLE OR BORDEAUXWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 07:32 23 June 2008

But an edit only a couple of hours later was to provide more information:

He has agreed on a three-year deal with Newcastle United F.C. on June 22, 2008 and will be unveiled on July 1, 2008. This is from reports very close to Chamakh. Also he has also said to the media in France that he has agreed a deal and all that stands in the way is a medical.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 09:41 23 June 2008

Although within half an hour, someone was suggesting that perhaps they didn’t quite believe the veracity of this source, changing it to:

…and will be unveiled on July 1, 2008, along with Ronaldinho, Andre Arshavin and Frank Lampard. This is from reports very close to ChamakhWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 10:15 23 June 2008

And then he was — alledgedly — seen in Toon:

Just entered St James Park with his agent and it looked like a body guardWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 11:37 23 June 2008

The constant battle against updates finally got too much for one editor, who snapped:

Why do you losers keep saying that he has signed for Newcastle and then say that he hasn’t. Can someone please come up with some viable official source that Chamakh has indeed agreed to join Newcastle, otherwise it is just speculation and should be treated as such.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 12:27 23 June 2008

This was quickly removed as vandalism, and ‘at St James for a medical’ held sway for a short while. Then — and with apologies for the robust language — there was someone else suggesting they weren’t quite believing the whole affair:

Just entered St. James Park with his agent to pass his medical.
Could be a load of fucking bullshit but one hopes not!!!Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 13:27 23 June 2008

Then the whole notion of what exactly anyone was supposed to understand by the phrase ‘officially confirmed’ was seriously called into question:

It has been officially confirmed that he currently undergoing a medical at the Benton based newcastle united training ground, the transfer should go through in the next few day, but won’t be officially confirmed until the 1st of July 2008.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 13:32 23 June 2008

Then, Wikipedia chose to comment on the transfer speculation surrounding Chamakh, seemingly missing the point that the entire transfer speculation had been caused by the Marouane Chamakh article on Wikipedia itself…

Transfer speculation suggesting Marouane has signed for Newcastle united of the English premier league seems premature as there has been no official word from Bordeaux or NewcastleWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 13:36 23 June 2008

There was some further bizarre vandalism to the article (remember, he plays for Morocco, an African team)…

Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all said to be interested in the 17 million pound rated striker. Chamakh has caught the eye of many top clubs after scoring 9 in 3 at euro 2008.
Chamakh also enjoys plate-spinning and basket weaving, which he lists as his favourite past-timesWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 13:43 23 June 2008

…finally, a sniff of the source of the transfer rumour appears…

Le Parisian newspaper and the Sud Ouest newspaper in France reported he had just signed a 3 year deal with the Newcastle United Football ClubWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 13:46 23 June 2008

Then more vandalism appears, this time with a dig at Newcastle United:

After having a trial with Accrington Stanley in the early stages of his career, he is now prepare to lower his expectations and sign for Newcastle.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 13:46 23 June 2008

This was then removed, and replaced by the reference to the newspapers again, then the entire transfer speculation was removed, then someone appears to have misunderstood exactly what sort of fact-checking Wikipedia wants, themselves declaring the statement to be true…

He will join Newcastle on the 1st of July following a statement from a Bordeaux offical. Fact
Kevin Keegan’s persuasive powers have left Chamakh on the verge of signing a deal with the Tyneside club.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 14:31 23 June 2008

Then there was a bit of a surprise as it appeared he qualified as a wildcard entrant to Wimbledon:

On 23rd of June, Marouane Chamakh played in his first tennis match at Wimbledon, beating Roger Federer 3-0 in straight sets. After the match Chamakh told reporters “I am retiring from football to concentrate on my tennis career”Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 14:58 23 June 2008

But he quickly returned to football again, and decided to stay in France…

He has signed a new 4 year contract with Girondins de Bordeaux ending any rumours of a move away.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 15:12 23 June 2008

But he was quickly moved back to Newcastle — apparently with squad number 200 — as well as some details emerging, the veracity of which I would probably be inclined to doubt…

Chamakh currently plays for Girondins de Bordeaux in the French top flight Ligue 1. He is also a stripperWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 15:33 23 June 2008

Finally, a day after he first ’signed’ for Newcastle, the first details of the transfer fee begin to emerge:

He will sign for Newcastle on the 1st of July for a total fee of £7.5million.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 16:09 23 June 2008

…along with his shirt number…

Newcastle United will very shortly confirm that Marouane Chamakh is in fact their first signing of the summer. He will be wearing the number 8 shirt.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 16:22 23 June 2008

And with a remarkable lack of irony, someone then added to the bottom of the player’s profile:

Please stop posting shit.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 16:31 23 June 2008

And then someone seemed surprised at how easy it was to update a Wiki…

Even I can change Wikipedia pages. Wheeeeeee!Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 17:16 23 June 2008

Come on lads and lasses, let’s get back to the football. Ah, here we are…

It is understood that French media have claimed that Marouane Chamakh had already held talk to join Newcastle since Febuary and it will be confirmed at the beginning of next month.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 21:01 23 June 2008

Then, a reported sighting — if you choose to believe it:

Chamakh was spotted at Newcastle airport on 23 June 2008 doing keepy-uppies as he went through security.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 22:48 23 June 2008

Skysports, Newcastle And Bordeaux have confirmed talks are ongoing but nothing has been confirmed.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 23:42 23 June 2008

Well obviously, if Sky Sports say it, it must be true. But by the morning of the 24th June, no-one really seemed to be adding anything new, just continuing the “oh yes he is! oh no he isn’t” routine…

I am a very close friend of chamakh actullay and he is going to sign for Newcastle on the 1st July. TrustWikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 12:10 24 June 2008

Oh well, if you say so, I guess that’s it then.

On Tuesday 24th June 2008 it was confirmed on the official Bordeaux website that Chamakh has completed his €6.5 million move to Newcastle United and has signed a 4 year deal.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 12:38 24 June 2008

…it’s funny that they should have removed the relevant post when I should have wandered over to their site to look for it, isn’t it? Admittedly, my French isn’t that good, but I would have thought their ‘News’ or ‘Transfers’ sections would have covered it — and my French is good enough to spot the words “Chamakh” and “Newcastle” in the same page…

But why would Marouane Chamakh want to join Newcastle in the first place? Surely Bordeaux are in the Champions League? Although then again, the Premiership is seen as a better quality league… perhaps we should turn to Wikipedia again for the answer?

He decided to join Newcastle United because some bad mackems and spuds misbehaved on his wiki page and that will guarantee the revenge he is looking for.Wikipedia Entry for Marouane Chamakh, 13:52 24 June 2008

…ah, well that explains it. It leaves us no further forwards in terms of knowing whether or not Marouane Chamakh has, might, is about to, or will definitely not sign for Newcastle United in the near future, but I guess we’ll find out that soon enough!

(Note that at the end of all this, and quite sensibly, a Wikipedia user with some sort of moderation/admin abilities has removed all of the speculation and temporarily locked the page against editing)