GABORONE, Botswana – The Government of Botswana has issued an official statement completely debunking a viral document that falsely claimed a public holiday had been declared to celebrate Arsenal Football Club winning the English Premier League title.
Okay News reports that the Office of the President in Gaborone moved swiftly on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to flag the trending press release as completely “FAKE.” This clarification came after social media platforms across southern Africa were flooded with a forged government circular suggesting that President Duma Boko had granted a national day off to the country’s massive base of Arsenal supporters.
The highly sophisticated but fraudulent document—dated May 17, 2026, and bearing a forged stamp from the Office of the President—claimed that a public holiday was being instituted in recognition of the “passion, loyalty, and unity” of Arsenal fans across Botswana following the club’s historic title victory over Manchester City. The fake release went so far as to encourage employers to grant “Gunners” fans the day off to celebrate “the positive energy and happiness” brought to the nation by the sports triumph.
Dismantling the viral hoax, government authorities released a short, sharp rebuttal across official communication channels stating simply: “NO, THERE IS NO HOLIDAY FOR ARSENAL FANS.” State officials urged the public and the business community to completely disregard the document, reminding citizens that official public holidays are only broadcast through formal constitutional instruments and the government’s gazette, rather than viral internet memes spawned by football celebrations.
