05769-25 Christensen v mirror.co.uk

Summary of Complaint

1. David Christensen complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that mirror.co.uk breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “England vs Australia referee was stabbed as match turned violent before culprit escaped”, published on 1 November 2025.

2. The article reported that a rugby referee had been stabbed during a match in 2016. The article sub-headline said the referee: “was put through a frightening ordeal due to the attack with the offender absconding, never to be found.” It also included a photograph of the referee with a caption: “[the referee] was once stabbed in the leg.”

3. The article opened by reporting “the referee for England's match against Australia on Saturday, was once stabbed in the leg by an assailant who managed to evade capture.” It then said the referee’s ”career almost ended before it had even begun, however. A match he was officiating in 2016 spiralled into chaos and violence at the final whistle.”

4. The complainant said that the headline of the article was misleading in breach of Clause 1. He said this was the case as the article had been published the weekend of a rugby match between England and Australia. He said that a reasonable reader would assume that this was the “match” referred to in the headline, and that the attack occurred during the then-recent match.

5. The publication did not accept the headline breached Clause 1. It said the article was not framed as “breaking news” or a recent story, and the headline reported the referee “was” stabbed as the match “turned violent” – the publication said this clearly did not reflect the happenings of the match on the previous day.

6. It further said the headline should be read in conjunction with the article. Where the opening paragraph made clear the referee “was once stabbed” and the article went on to report the incident happened in 2016, it did not consider the headline was misleading. The publication also said the sub-heading and the picture caption made clear the incident was historical.

Relevant Clause Provisions

Clause 1 (Accuracy)

i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and — where appropriate — an apology published. In cases involving IPSO, due prominence should be as required by the regulator.

iii) A fair opportunity to reply to significant inaccuracies should be given, when reasonably called for.

iv) The Press, while free to editorialise and campaign, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

Findings of the Committee

7. The Committee noted that Clause 1 makes clear that headlines should be supported by the text of the article. While the Committee acknowledged the headline did not make clear which match was being referred to, it noted the opening paragraph and a caption of the photograph - which appeared at the top of the article - reported the referee was “once stabbed”. The Committee therefore considered the article made clear at the outset that the referee was stabbed at a past match, rather than the then-recent match between England and Australia. The article also went on to detail the incident occurred in 2016. In such circumstances, the Committee considered the headline was supported by the article and was not misleading. There is no breach of Clause 1.

Conclusions

8. The complaint was not upheld.

Remedial action required

N/A

Date complaint received: 02/11/2025

Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 30/01/2026