It's been annoying for some time, I've commented on it a couple of times over the last year or so. It's all about social media and the propensity for professional footballers to air grievances they have, swear to millions of people and generally use the medium in a way that puts their club, country, manager, fellow professionals in extremely difficult positions. I saw Roberto Di Matteo on TV the other week when, quite rightly, the journalist asked him about what Ashley Cole had written on Twitter following the outcome of the Terry FA Disciplinary Panel. He and the clubs PR Director felt extremely difficult answering the questions. Behind the scenes I can only imagine what RDM would have said to his beloved Ashley. Now he's got Bertrand following suit with an outburst on Twitter again. Here's a great insert from the Telegraph which sums it up for me. "As a way for famous, thick people to communicate directly with their fans, and make their fans think worse of them, it could hardly be designed better. And in the hands of famous footballers… wow. Not too bright, the subjects of constant speculation, time on their hands and largely regarded by the public as unconscionable beasts who take time out from cheating and abusing each other only to burn a wad of fifties in front of an orphanage or molest a passing female, footballers are ideally badly suited to its use. Clearly the logical solution would be for clubs to ban their players from using it, although those hours would need to be filled somehow, and perhaps the prospect of players tweeting idiotic messages from the safety of their own home is preferable to having them roaming the streets. Chelsea’s PR wonks may be sighing at the prospect of another afternoon dealing with the fallout of their latest player’s latest microblogging mindfart, but at least Ryan isn’t out there shooting at the youth team with an air-rifle, racially abusing an opponent, laughing at terrorist incidents or any other number of real world boo-boos. Only Twittering in the comfort of their bedrooms can save footballers from themselves, and as such football clubs should be telling them to get on the web and get stuck in as much as humanly possible." I'm not saying that they should stop, I think it's a great way for them to communicate with fans and fans to follow comments or chats with people that they would never be able to see in public. Where else could you follow conversations between Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand at the same time? However, some players are just to thick to understand or even realise that they have to be careful about what they write on Twitter. They've got to have some big ego's to think they should broadcast to the world that the FA are a bunch of tw*ts or we must all be F*****g nuts to think a cold might stop you from playing for England. Jeez, I can't tell you how bloody irritating it is and also due to the fact they are such prima donnas and their employers love them so much they are above reality in terms of disciplinary procedures that normal employees on planet earth are! What did they do before Twitter? Oh yes, they aired their grievances with their boss, slept with colleagues wives, swore in private etc. All the same just not in front of the whole bloody world - muppets! What do you think?
My first thought was 'freedom of speech' Craving. Then Joey Barton (tweet twerp !) came to mind. Then, the abuse that players get from fans if they're daft enough to have a Twitter account. Then, poor Paddy Kenny and his spat first with QPR fans and later the QPR official after he got dumped. Then, Danny Murphy who kept hands off, leaving his wife to chat to fans, although that backfired when Blackburn fans abused him through her. Then .. I thought, that's not the point ! This is about mindless individuals who once they leave the football field can't act as responsible adults. Cocooned by Agents and money, hyped by the media they seem to believe they are above society and can do, or say, what they wish. So I agree with you and the Telegraph person. What should be done ? The answer has to lie with the clubs. It seems that basic rules or more draconian Capello type bans don't work. So, as I see it, it comes back to education. I read an appropriate quote recently (can't remember who by, although it might have been David Icke himself) along the lines "it's okay to tweet but you must be prepared to take responsibility for the outcome of your tweet". In other words, "think before you act". Clubs already employ psychiatrists/analysts (or some such) to motivate players, they should also bring in gurus to teach/educate them in social skills/attitudes.
Mark Schwarzer seems to have shown the way, Craving - Opt Out ! http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1124625/Schwarzer-reveals-Twitter-frustration
The trouble is that most people think of social media - including sites like this one - as an extension of talking with your mates down the pub or something similar (we've described this site like that ourselves in the past). That's all well and good, but legally when you tweet (or whatever platform you're using) you are publishing something, and all the laws relevant to publishing apply to tweets. I think it's good that fans have greater access to players thoughts, and I'm sure some players use Twitter very well (I don't do Twitter myself, so I'm not talking from experience here) but too many of them, as others have said, just sound off without thinking. It would be a shame for clubs to ban players from Tweeting, but players need the common sense not to post anything that criticises their employers (as I have to be careful of when I use Facebook) or which is going to get them into trouble for inappropriate language. If they wouldn't swear in an interview with Football Focus or something, it shouldn't be too hard to avoid swearing on Twitter. Shouldn't, but it appears that it is too hard for some of them.
