The rising use of social media channels amongst professional athletes has created exponential benefits in building their brand, connecting with their fan base and providing a medium to publicly express their views. However, this has also created growing liability in negatively commenting on teams, leagues, officials, media, etc. Therefore, leagues and teams have created social media policies to eliminate this and put athletes in the best situation to succeed over social media. Interestingly, the policies across leagues are inconsistent and have numerous differences that present more flexibility for some leagues. Further, certain leagues have imposed outrageous fines and punishment for violations while similar social media faults have seen no response in other leagues.
Here’s the top 10 highest penalized athletes and sports operations personnel:
1. Micky Arison, Miami Heat Owner – $500,000 for tweeting to fans about the NBA lockout
2. Ashley Cole, Chelsea FC Defender – £90,000 ($145,000) for his comments on the FA
3. Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United Defender – £45,000 ($70,000) for his racist tweet to Ashley Cole
4. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks Forward – $50,000 for a homophobic direct message to a fan over Twitter
5. Carlton Cole, West Ham United Forward – £20,000 ($27,000) for immigration comments over Twitter
6. Chad Ochocinco, previous Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver – $25,000 for tweeting during a NFL preseason game
7. Ozzi Guillen, previous Chicago White Sox Manager – $20,000 and 2 game suspension for lashing out on Twitter after an ejection
8. Ryan Babel, previous Liverpool FC Winger – £10,000 ($13,500) for criticizing an official over Twitter
9. Ravel Morrison, previous West Ham United Midfielder – £7,000 ($11,000) for a homophobic tweet
10. Danny Gabbidon, previous West Ham United Defender – £6,000 ($8,000) for foul language over Twitter
Others have been fined for violating social media policies but this list represents some of the most notable athletes and personnel. The astonishing aspect of this issue has to be the inconsistency and subjectivity behind these social media policies. New York Giants running back/kick returner, Andre Brown, tweeted during their game vs. the 49ers earlier this season that “Everything is OK” after a concussion, yet no fine was given. Furthermore, after the insane ending to the Green Bay vs. Seattle game on Sept. 24, numerous Green Bay players made themselves heard over Twitter trashing the NFL, officials and all with offensive language. Easily a hefty fine in other professional sports leagues but the NFL did nothing. Now, let’s analyze how the social media policies vary across leagues.
Overview of Professional Sports Leagues Social Media Policies
National Football League (NFL)
- NFL game officials and officiating department personnel are prohibited to use social media.
- Players, coaches and football operations personnel must stop social media use 90 minutes before kickoff and wait until after the game following media interviews.
- The use of these sites by these individuals is not permitted during the game, including halftime.
- No updates are permitted to be posted by the individual himself or anyone representing him.
English Premier League (EPL)
- Confidential information about team selection, injuries or tactics is prohibited from being disclosed on social media.
- The guidelines “offer advice” on the endorsement of brands, goods and services over social media.
- The FA regulatory role in respect of disciplinary action that can be taken against players who make improper comments on social media websites.
Major League Soccer (MLS)
- Some MLS teams have initiated social media policies however the league does not have an overarching policy. That being said, the league has reminded teams and players that comments via social media should not violate other league policies and are subject to punishment.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
- Social media use is banned the period of time beginning 45 minutes before the opening tip and ending “after the postgame locker room is open to the media and coaches and players have first fulfilled their obligation to be available to media attending the game.”
- Electronic devices are banned during this time period.
- Comments over social media are subject to fines/discipline.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
- Players can’t make what can be construed as official club or league statements without permission.
- Players can’t use copyrighted team logos and stuff without permission or tweet confidential or private information about teams or players, their families, etc.
- Players can’t link to any MLB website or platform from social media without permission.
- No tweets condoning or appearing to condone the use of substances on the MLB banned drug list (which is everything but booze, right?).
- No ripping umpires or questioning their integrity.
- No racial, sexist, homophobic, anti-religious, etc. etc. content
- No harassment or threats of violence.
- Nothing sexually explicit.
- Nothing otherwise illegal.
National Hockey League (NHL)
- Social media use by Hockey Operations personnel is prohibited on game day (including all Preseason, Regular Season and Playoff Games, but excluding All-Star events or other special purpose events or exhibitions) beginning at 11 a.m. on the day of the game and ending after post-game media obligations.
- Social media use is prohibited beginning two (2) hours prior to the opening face-off and ending upon cessation of post-game media obligations.
- All League/Club personnel and Players are reminded that giving, making, issuing, authorizing or endorsing any statements (including through social media) that: have or are designed to have an effect prejudicial to the welfare of the League, the game of hockey or a Member Club; or are publicly critical of officiating staff may constitute a violation of the NHL By-Laws and/or Constitution and may subject them to potential discipline.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
- There is not an overarching NCAA social media policy however there is a social media policy in regard to recruiting.
- Some individual teams have set social media policies.
- Meanwhile certain teams closely monitor their player’s social media activity and some have gone as far as banning social media use altogether.
Mark Wysocki 