If I were to go onto a social media website, for example a famous one that rhymes with Switter or Bacelook, and said something along the lines of; "Howard Webb is utterly useless, he shouldn't be allowed to referee in the Southern Premier League, let alone the Premiership!!", one of three things could happen. I'd gain about 300 followers who would agree with me, I'd get into an arguement with Manchester United fans, or Alex Ferguson would have me assasinated.
If, for example, Leighton Baines did the same thing, he'd be fined about £10000...
Now, although we don't have a lot and common, myself and Leighton, we are both 27, English, living in England, caucasian, and most crucially for this topic, human beings.
Don't get me wrong, I don't condone abuse of any sorts in social media, but there has been a recent spate of fines and other such punishments against football players for such outbursts. This worries me somewhat, not because I fear that if I were to start ranting and raving about Andy Carroll being an inebriated long haired so and so from the North East of England, that I would recieve a letter from the FA telling me I'd been fined, more that this sort of action is likely to put the rich and famous we adore off of being "social".
I think that the aforementioned social media website named after a bird's song is a wonderful invention, as it gives us, the humble folk who watch the beautiful game, an insight into the lives of those we see as untouchable (until they get sent off for kicking an Argentinan into row Q). The other side of this, of course, is that it gives "famous people" the chance to show their human side, to be able to interact with the fans that adore them.
But if all of a sudden, it becomes the norm for any little thing they utter in grievance to be jumped upon by those in charge, surely they'd react like most people, and protect their wallets over their right to freedom of speech.
Again, I know there have been more serious cases recently, including homophobic remarks and alike, and things like that need to be cut out, not just by so called role models, but by everyone who lives and breathes.. tolerance is key to a happier society after all.
But, in this land of political correctness, I for one hope that this isn't the beginning of the end for footballers acting like they should... like people.