LONDON (AP) — Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has become the first player to be charged with improper conduct by England’s Football Association over a Twitter posting.
Babel was charged Monday after posting a digitally altered picture of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United jersey after his team’s FA Cup loss.
Babel also wrote on Twitter: “And they call him one of the best referees. That’s a joke.”
The FA says the improper conduct charge “relates to comments and images published by the player on Twitter concerning referee Howard Webb.”
Webb awarded a penalty kick against Liverpool and ejected captain Steven Gerrard as Man United won 1-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
