West Brom youngster James Hurst issues Facebook warning

Jan 16 2011 by Gregg Evans, Sunday Mercury

West Brom starlet James Hurst has issued a stark warning to footballers using social networks in the wake of a series of internet blunders.

The teenage Baggie paid the price for a Facebook post when he was at previous club Portsmouth – although he denies the comment was anything to do with him.

When playing for the south coast club Hurst’s Facebook page was updated with the quote ‘I hope we lose today’ hours before Pompey were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal.

He was suspended by the club and ordered to train on his own.

But the right-back, who turns 19 at the end of the month, insists it was someone else who posted the comment after he left his account open on the computer.

Hurst has warned his peers that social networks, including the popular Twitter website, pose serious threats to their careers and stressed that they should be extra careful when signing up.

“It wasn’t actually me that wrote it, which I’ve always said, but you learn your lesson don’t you,” said Hurst. “I would say to anyone using it, don’t leave Facebook on when people are around. Also don’t say anything controversial.

“I still use Facebook but I use it very carefully now.

“I always try to put scores and stuff up as my status, but not anything about myself.”

Hurst is not the first to fall victim to the online world as a host of other Premier League stars have slipped up whilst using Twitter and Facebook.

This week Liverpool’s Ryan Babel was charged with improper conduct after tweeting a mocked-up picture of Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt. He criticised Webb’s handling of last Sunday’s third-round FA Cup tie and was rapped by the FA as a result.

Aldershot striker Marvin Morgan was transfer listed when he bluntly told the home fans who had booed him from the pitch: “I hope you all die.”

In the past England striker Darren Bent has posted an online rant that accused Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy of disrupting his move to Sunderland while he was still a Spurs player.