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Where's our sense of humour gone? Babel's FA charge over Webb Twitter picture questioned by PFA chief TaylorBy Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 2:15 PM on 11th January 2011
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The FA's decision to charge Ryan Babel over his Twitter post of Howard Webb mocked up in a Manchester United shirt has been criticised by players' chief Gordon Taylor.
Babel posted the picture after Liverpool's 1-0 FA Cup loss at Old Trafford on Sunday, during which Webb awarded United a controversial first-minute penalty - scored by Ryan Giggs - and sent off Steven Gerrard.
But PFA boss Taylor descibed the charge as 'very precious' and bemoaned a lack of 'sense of humour' in football today.
Don't mock: Webb in Babel's tweeted 'photo'
Babel has since removed the link and worte an apology on his Twitter page.
Taylor told BBC Radio Merseyside: 'Where's our sense of humour gone in our game?
'He's apologised, let's move on.'
Taylor later added that he believed the FA had more serious issues they should concentrate on, and highlighted the pitch invasion after Stevenage beat Newcastle on Saturday, when a fan allegedly assaulted Stevenage's Scott Laird
'I didn't feel it was that serious but you can understand from the FA's point of view that they have a job to protect referees.
'I thought a warning letter would suffice but it may be they need to put a marker down for the future because these sites are being accessed by the media so it can be the equivalent of being on the television or being in the national press.
'But I felt the fact that an apology had been made (would mean) we could move on.
Seeing Red: Liverpool players surround Howard Webb after he awarded Manchester United a penalty
'Particularly when we've got issues like the Scott Laird situation to deal with, at Stevenage, which is much more serious bearing in mind with the FA Cup there will be teams that will have really good victories against higher opposition and sometimes that can invite a pitch invasion. You don't want that to happen, and be thinking about getting back to the problems of the 80s.'
Babel's mocked-up picture was accompanied by criticism of his performance. He wrote: 'And they call him one of the best referees. That's a joke. SMH.'
SMH is an abbreviation for 'shake my head' but it was the picture of Webb which caused most furore and the FA have confirmed they will be examining Babel's actions.
Babel, who went on in the 60th minute of United's 1-0 win, later removed the offending post from his site and apologised to Webb for any offence he caused, saying: 'Sorry Howard Webb.'
In another tweet, he added: 'My apology if they take my posted pic seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game.'
Off the bench: Ryan Babel (left) was a Liverpool substitute at Old Trafford
Last January, Babel criticised former Reds manager Rafael Benitez on the social networking site, and he is not the first Liverpool player to court online controversy this weekend.
Yesterday, defender Glen Johnson, who missed today`s game as his wife had gone into labour, launched an attack on TV pundit Paul Merson after he criticised his performances for the Reds.
'Comments from alcoholic drug abusers are not really gonna upset me and who is Paul Merson to judge players, he was average at the best of times,' Johnson wrote.
'The only reason he's on that show is coz he gambled all his money away. The clown!'
A number of people complained that Johnson had brought up Merson's former drug problems and the comments were soon deleted.
And just yesterday new Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish called Webb's penalty decision a 'joke' and also disputed Gerrard's dismissal, but his son Paul, the former Newcastle striker, went even further via his own Twitter account.
He claimed: 'Fergie has his puppet Howard Webb on a piece of string.'
He also made fun of Webb being given an MBE at the start of the year, adding: 'Howard Webb MBE. Manc of the Busby Empire.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1AjqZnTJ8
Comments (0) Add to My Stories
The FA's decision to charge Ryan Babel over his Twitter post of Howard Webb mocked up in a Manchester United shirt has been criticised by players' chief Gordon Taylor.
Babel posted the picture after Liverpool's 1-0 FA Cup loss at Old Trafford on Sunday, during which Webb awarded United a controversial first-minute penalty - scored by Ryan Giggs - and sent off Steven Gerrard.
But PFA boss Taylor descibed the charge as 'very precious' and bemoaned a lack of 'sense of humour' in football today.
Don't mock: Webb in Babel's tweeted 'photo'
Babel has since removed the link and worte an apology on his Twitter page.
Taylor told BBC Radio Merseyside: 'Where's our sense of humour gone in our game?
'He's apologised, let's move on.'
Taylor later added that he believed the FA had more serious issues they should concentrate on, and highlighted the pitch invasion after Stevenage beat Newcastle on Saturday, when a fan allegedly assaulted Stevenage's Scott Laird
'I didn't feel it was that serious but you can understand from the FA's point of view that they have a job to protect referees.
'I thought a warning letter would suffice but it may be they need to put a marker down for the future because these sites are being accessed by the media so it can be the equivalent of being on the television or being in the national press.
'But I felt the fact that an apology had been made (would mean) we could move on.
Seeing Red: Liverpool players surround Howard Webb after he awarded Manchester United a penalty
'Particularly when we've got issues like the Scott Laird situation to deal with, at Stevenage, which is much more serious bearing in mind with the FA Cup there will be teams that will have really good victories against higher opposition and sometimes that can invite a pitch invasion. You don't want that to happen, and be thinking about getting back to the problems of the 80s.'
Babel's mocked-up picture was accompanied by criticism of his performance. He wrote: 'And they call him one of the best referees. That's a joke. SMH.'
SMH is an abbreviation for 'shake my head' but it was the picture of Webb which caused most furore and the FA have confirmed they will be examining Babel's actions.
Babel, who went on in the 60th minute of United's 1-0 win, later removed the offending post from his site and apologised to Webb for any offence he caused, saying: 'Sorry Howard Webb.'
In another tweet, he added: 'My apology if they take my posted pic seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game.'
Off the bench: Ryan Babel (left) was a Liverpool substitute at Old Trafford
Last January, Babel criticised former Reds manager Rafael Benitez on the social networking site, and he is not the first Liverpool player to court online controversy this weekend.
Yesterday, defender Glen Johnson, who missed today`s game as his wife had gone into labour, launched an attack on TV pundit Paul Merson after he criticised his performances for the Reds.
'Comments from alcoholic drug abusers are not really gonna upset me and who is Paul Merson to judge players, he was average at the best of times,' Johnson wrote.
'The only reason he's on that show is coz he gambled all his money away. The clown!'
A number of people complained that Johnson had brought up Merson's former drug problems and the comments were soon deleted.
And just yesterday new Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish called Webb's penalty decision a 'joke' and also disputed Gerrard's dismissal, but his son Paul, the former Newcastle striker, went even further via his own Twitter account.
He claimed: 'Fergie has his puppet Howard Webb on a piece of string.'
He also made fun of Webb being given an MBE at the start of the year, adding: 'Howard Webb MBE. Manc of the Busby Empire.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1AjqZnTJ8