Is the 'Ladyball' real, or is it just a clever hoax?

It’s the pink football that has been causing quite the sexism row on social media — but many are calling out the ‘Ladyball’ as a clever hoax.

Picked up by newspapers and websites both in Ireland and Britain, the website blurb for the new ‘product’ labelled the pink football as “a concept led by a group of aspiring entrepreneurs who have made it their personal goal in life to encourage girls to play more team sports, and to bring a feminine touch to the all too masculine world of sports.”

The press release sent into newspapers hailed the football as a unique design specifically for the fairer sex.

“All too often women are left to make do with the balls men use which are frequently too big and too heavy. Ladyball is the opposite of this — lightweight and aerodynamically designed to help improve kicking, passing and catching in a women’s game.

“It is a softer ball to grip and hold also which will appeal to many out there.”

It even had the seal of approval of former Dublin footballer Ger Brennan who apparently had “no doubt the softer texture will be welcomed by all the ladies out there who are playing games or want to get involved”.

A number of national newspapers carried adverts promoting the product, but not everyone is convinced. Last week Ovarian Cancer Canada named its awareness campaign ‘Ladyballs’, but tweeted it had “no involvement” with the product.

For more info & to see what dreamy Ger has to say about #Ladyball visit https://t.co/v3hjkyYu8W pic.twitter.com/Lcos2KiIqy

— Lady Ball (@theladyball_com) January 14, 2016