Ryan Babel fined £10,000 by FA over Twitter posts
Liverpool forward fined and warned about future conduct following criticism of Howard Webb on Twitter
Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has been handed a £10,000 fine by the Football Association and warned about his future conduct for posting comments and a mocked-up image of referee Howard Webb on Twitter.
The FA stressed that use of social networking websites “must be regarded as being in the public domain” and that it is the players’ “responsibility to ensure only appropriate comments are used”.
Babel faced a personal hearing at the FA on Monday in relation to the updates he posted on Twitter after Liverpool’s FA Cup exit at Old Trafford, where the Reds conceded a controversial first-minute penalty and had captain Steven Gerrard sent off.
The Dutch winger posted a doctored image of Webb wearing a United shirt after the final whistle. He also wrote: “And they call him one of the best referees? That’s a joke. SMH (shaking my head).”
Despite the Holland international quickly posting an apology, he became first player to be charged by the FA for an indiscretion on the social networking website.
Regulatory commission chairman Roger Burden said: “Social network sites must be regarded as being in the public domain.
“All participants need to be aware, in the same way as if making a public statement in other forms of media, that any comments would be transmitted to a wider audience. It is their responsibility to ensure only appropriate comments are used.”
