"New research suggests researchers would like to get their names in the big publications and even onto the front-page of the news and, well, saying you found some footprints doesn't cut-it so you have to make them old, no, whatever you're imaging is not old enough, way older, like a bazillion years? Oh, too old and unbelievable? Yeah, I guess younger than the earth itself. How about a few million? You're sure no-one can check? OK, roll the presses ..."
Margin of error +/- 6 million years
Think of all the things that scientists can't really tell us for certain, today, when things are measured.
It's all guesswork, but there's no one to check, 'cause no one was there. Heck, it doesn't even look like a footprint - hello, McFly, did no one notice that it isn't even an actual footprint?
Anyway, outlandish claims get them free headlines and more funding ...