Family member using child to contact sports players - AIBU?

[BlackKite]

My DSis and DBIL have a son. If it is relevant (I think it is), the child, my DN has SEN.

My DSis is a big fan of a few sports teams (two in particular). From my perspective, they make a lot of effort to make contact with the teams and their players, especially through social media, where they use their child as a pretext - "DN is a massive fan of X, it would make their day if you can send them a message on their birthday / Christmas, etc".

It seems really obvious that they are doing it for themselves, and not for DN, who couldn't name these players or understand what sport they play, even though she is dressed up in the kits a lot.

As a child, I remember getting some signatures on few occasions of the local football team, so it's not as if I have an objection to any child making contact with football teams.

Am I unreasonable to feel uncomfortable with this?

I suppose I just feel uncomfortable with a child being used like this.

So what if you do feel uncomfortable with it? It’s nothing to do with you.

So?

I knew someone once who was early twenties at the time, and really into One Direction. He used his little sister in this way, in order to get signed stuff and meetings. She was 12 and had leukaemia....which he ALWAYS mentioned. I hear you Op

Ok, it just seems normal to care about my DN as it seems unhealthy, but other disagree.

That is a really cynical and sick way to use their own child. I would find it very hard to be around people like that.
It reminds me of the mum with the sick kid on Extras.

It’s harming no one op.

Maybe you’re blessed to have duck all else to worry about.

It’s harming no one op.

My worry is that it has the potential to do so, by teaching a strange message to a vulnerable child, that validation and worth comes through (minor) celebrities on social media, and that the child's needs are being subordinated to the gratification that his parents are getting from it.