Trace the original publication and distinguish an official announcement, attributed reporting and commentary. Check the account’s identity, date and full context. Several accounts copying one message are not several independent confirmations.
Putting it into practice
Keep the original link and look for confirmation from the club, competition or person concerned. Without confirmation, label the information unverified and do not turn a supposed absence into a certainty in an analysis.
What to watch for
Record the period studied, the source and any missing data. Compare several matches in similar contexts, then note what could contradict your hypothesis. A useful method also lets you recognise when there is not enough information to reach a conclusion.