Guidance on social networking communications
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This season has seen the League increase it’s involvement and
visibility with social media communication channels as a way of communicating
more quickly and visibly with players, clubs, referees and fans alike.
We all like to talk about football, whether it’s on the
pitch, on the sidelines, in the car on the way home or over a celebratory pint
in the clubhouse. Social media is another way for people to have a conversation
about football.
Whilst there are a great number of positives in the use of social media, it should however be noted that it can also have a
negative impact on the League and what it represents when social media is used
by clubs to express opinions about an opponent’s players or match officials in
an offensive or insulting manner.
I would refer you to the FA’s guidance on this:
“Participants should be aware that comments made on such
sites may be considered public comment, and that further to FA Rule E3, any
comments which are deemed improper, bring the game into disrepute, or are
threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting may lead to disciplinary action.
Comments which are personal in nature or could be
construed as offensive, use foul language or contain direct or indirect threats
aimed at other participants are likely to be considered improper.
Participants are required to act in the best
interests of the game at all times and should be aware of this when using
social networking websites. Furthermore, participants are reminded that
postings on social networking sites which they believe to be visible to a
limited number of selected people may still end up in the public domain and
consequently, care should be exercised with regards to the contents of such
postings.
In addition, we would remind participants that
social networking postings could also lead to civil proceedings being brought
by affected parties.”
SOURCE: http://nav.thefa.com/sitecore/content/TheFA/Home/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2011/social-netowrking-120211
Let’s please avoid the situation occurring by being careful
and thinking about what you are posting on social media sites. The League’s
view is that we want to deter any activity which brings the League into disrepute
of any kind and will such action as we deem necessary to preserve the positive reputation that we have built over a number of years.