In the Kings League, a competition between soccer teams in Spain, the team presidents’ WhatsApp group is a constant source of news. While it is a private space where members are expected to communicate confidentially, the nature of online communication often leads members to be careless with what they say. The group has become well-known for the large amount of sensitive information that has been made public.
Recently, a WhatsApp group conversation between Iker Casillas, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper, and Gerard Piqué, the former Barcelona defender, became public after Piqué made a mistake by accidentally sharing a screenshot of the conversation on his own Instagram account. In the conversation, Piqué mocks Casillas for not having a good handle on social media.
Shortly after, popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, a friend of both players, posted a screenshot of another conversation in which he asked Casillas his opinion of Piqué. Casillas responded by calling Pique a “total ninny and an imbecile.” While it is unclear whether Casillas was being serious or joking, the conversation is indicative of the tense dynamic between the two players.
The leak of these private conversations in the WhatsApp group has raised concerns about the security and privacy of the group’s members. While the group is designed to be a private space to discuss league matters, it is clear that members are not always aware that their conversations may be shared publicly. The situation has led some to question the need for the WhatsApp group in the first place.