Gone are the days when the only way you could interact with your footballing heroes was to vocalise support (or hurl abuse) from the stands or to linger outside stadiums on cold December Saturday afternoons, pen and programme in hand, scrabbling to secure the all important autograph before anyone else.
No, nowadays the average fan with a basic grasp of computer literacy can take to the social networking site Twitter to interact with a plethora of footballing personnel and gain an insight into their lives and personalities off the pitch.
From Wayne Rooney’s sharp analysis,
“Ash Cole your to funny. Legend” (spelling is correct)
to Joey Barton’s deep thinking Nietzche worship and social commentary,
(in relation to the London riots) “Violence always comes from a place of misunderstanding and low to zero self-worth…
However, several high profile and recent incidents have highlighted the potential dangers of social networking in football, leading to calls by clubs who have traditionally controlled abuses of social media in house, asking the Premier League to implement club-wide standards.
Are guidelines necessary?
Since the emergence of tweeting within football, there has been an endless stream of what the media would term “twitter storms” that have formed in response to controversial tweets by players. Here are the ‘main offenders:
1. Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole
In response to Coles support of John Terry in brother Antons racism case, Rio took to Twitter, calling Cole a “choc ice” meaning black on the outside but white on the inside. Ferdinand has been asked to explain his tweet to the FA. He has denied a charge of improper conduct.
2. Ryan Babel and Howard Webb
Last year, Babel made his views clear by tweeting a mock up picture of referee Howard Webb in a Man United kit after a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford. He was charged with improper conduct.
3. Joey Barton
It is difficult to pick out one twi-ncident in Barton’s Twitter career. In reaction to his final day red card at Manchester City, Barton took to twitter to explain that he had deliberately tried to get other players sent off. He later issued an apology not before slandering Alan Shearer via twitter.
4. Darren Bent
Openly criticised Tottenham chairman Dan Levy via twitter, complaining that he was hindering a move to Sunderland.
5. Danny Gabbidon
Gabbidons haste to tweet after a West Ham loss caused outrage amongst fans; a lack of a comma in his tweet appeared to criticise the fans support.
These are only the tip of the iceberg in twitter storms that have arisen over the last few years. Together they reveal how,
a) words can be taken out of context (140 characters is insufficient to offer explanations)
b) mistakes can lead to misconstruing (Gabbidons comma)
c) tweets can undermine football itself
d) tweets can undermine management which is technically a breach of an employment contract with clubs
New Guidelines
The Premier League have this week confirmed that guidelines have been published to control social media within football, following consultation with the FA and PFA. Although yet to be published they mainly concern:
- players understanding the potential audience and reception of their comments on a wider scale
- advice on endorsements and brands
- how team selection and tactics are unacceptable on social media
The guidelines illustrate how the Premier League have accepted Twitter has become part of culture and to deny it to footballers would be ineffective as well as a breach of their human rights. Although the aforementioned incidences have served to undermine the sport, many advocate the use of Twitter and see the benefits.
However, the rise of trolling has lead to several high profile and highly unpleasant cases where footballers (and ex pro’s) have hit back against members of the public. Most recently, Gary Lineker was subjected to taunts about his leukaemia suffering son.
Whether the Premier League and its new Twitter rules will be effective remains to be seen.
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