Twitter Trouble

Social networking sites provide us journalists with opportunities to gain an insight to those involved in sport - even when we can't get an interview. They also provide an opportunity for players to slip up and tell us things the clubs or authorities don't want us to know.

Ryan Babel has become the latest player to fall foul of the Twitter revolution. After Liverpool's FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford, the Dutchman posted a doctored image of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt. It was accompanied by the Tweet "And they call him one of the best referees. That's a joke" (@RyanBabel) The joke's on Babel now though as it has landed him in trouble with FA. The game's authorities charging the forward with improper conduct.

Of course, it's not the first case of a player landing himself in deep water because of Twitter. Darren Bent (@DB11TT) did himself no favours with the Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy when he posted: "Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go stoke NO do I wanna go sunderland YES so stop f****** around Levy..." It caused outrage, but for Bent the post worked. He was transferred to the Stadium of Light shortly after.

Phil Hughes (@PH408) gave the game away that he wasn't to be selected for the Third Ashes Test back in 2009 when he tweeted "Disappointed not to be on the field with the lads today , will be supporting the guys, it's a BIG test for us..." Cricket Australia were not happy details of the team had been leaked before the match, but this is becoming more common. Rio Ferdinand Tweeted he would be rested before Manchester United's match with Stoke. Team selection issues are a far cry from libel though.

Babel has become the first player to be charged by the Football Association for comments on a social networking site. For tweeters and us journalists it sets a dangerous precedent. It means players' mangers and agents will be monitoring their actions ever closer. And behind the closed doors of the Premier League, this will make it that bit tougher for us journalists (or the tech savvy) to be informed of what's really going on behind the scenes.