Babel fined for Webb photo

LIVERPOOL forward Ryan Babel has been fined £10,000 (€12,000) and warned about his future conduct for posting comments and a doctored picture of Howard Webb on Twitter.

The Netherlands international was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after he used the social networking site to criticise the official.

After the Reds’ FA Cup exit at Manchester United, where Liverpool conceded a controversial first-minute penalty and had captain Steven Gerrard sent off, Babel posed a mocked-up picture of Webb wearing a United shirt.

He also wrote: “And they call him one of the best referees? That’s a joke. SMH (shaking my head).”

Babel later apologised for his comments and posted: “My apology if they take my posted pic seriously.

“Sorry Howard Webb.”

In summing up yesterday, the regulatory commission chairman Roger Burden said: “Social network sites, like Twitter, must be regarded as being in the public domain.

“All participants need to be aware, in the same way as if making a public statement in other forms of media, that any comments would be transmitted to a wider audience.

“It is their responsibility to ensure only appropriate comments are used.”