Cole Tweet could be Final Straw

Ashley Cole's tweet criticising the FA in the wake of the John Terry racism trial is the latest example of a footballer being left red-faced using the social media platform.

When used properly, Twitter can be a great link between fans and their heroes, and provides the football-loving public with the chance to get a glimpse into the real lives of players who are usually difficult to communicate with, and often seen as living in their own bubble.

But it is no place for a bitter attack on the game's governing body - something Cole has apologised "unreservedly" for and blamed on a hasty 'heat of the moment' reaction.

He is not the first player to get himself into trouble using Twitter - or Facebook, for that matter - so how long before managers decide to call time on allowing their players to use it?

Surely, footballers cannot be that detached from reality to think what they tweet will not get publicised in the sport updates.

At Premier League teams at least, there must be some form of media training nowadays that warns players of the pitfalls of using social media in such a way that it could land them in trouble legally and, even worse, threaten their position at a club?

If Cole had said what he tweeted in an interview with a television, radio, or newspaper journalist it would have caused a huge storm but players need to realise that in today's technologically-advanced world, what opinions they offer online for public consumption are no different.

Cole may well escape with a fine but he is unlikely to receive much congratulations if he wins his 100th England cap later this month - especially not from the FA.

Some fans making Premier League predictions will welcome players giving their true opinion on Twitter but, when they start getting unnecessarily abusive, a line has been crossed.