Comments on: Houston Player Gets $500 fine for Anti-Ref Tweet

By: Finnegan

Finnegan — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:26:05 +0000

I am very adamant about free speech for athletes, not just footballers. I think it’s stupid that the NBA fines its players for calling attention to poor officiating, especially when they’re right. Same goes for footballing around the world – I can understand why the FA for instance, would not want its managers and players speaking out against the officiating. It reflects poorly on the league, and (sometimes) it is unbased. But ultimately, athletes are people, and people have free speech. Now there’s obviously a line. Brian Ching didn’t cross that line. Didier Drogba did in last season’s Champions League. There’s a difference between venting a little anger through Twitter and verbally assaulting the referee on national television in one of the most highly broadcasted and viewed footballing matches of the year.

By: omar

omar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:28:37 +0000

ahahah 500 bucks buahahahha man this is how u NO the MLS sucks juevos!

By: elle

elle — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:16:12 +0000

did his nose begin to bleed upon hearing the news of his being fined?

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:54:56 +0000

What can I say? Just call me a one-person truth squad. :-)

By: Rex

Rex — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:24:59 +0000

Thanks to a certain offsides blogger (Laurie), it was posted to the world and documented by a screen shot. Tattle-tale. :)

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:41:01 +0000

If he had said this in front of cameras, he would have been fined. So fair’s fair.

By: Daryl

Daryl — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:41:54 +0000

Seems Brian Ching the Twitterer is about as subtle as Brian Ching the footballer.