Man Utd players face Twitter ban

United players Rio Ferdinand, Nani and Michael Owen are regular Tweeters

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested his players could be banned from using Twitter.

The micro-blogging website is used by United players including Wayne Rooney, who was involved in an incident with a follower on Tuesday.

While Ferguson, 69, said he did not understand Twitter, he said the club are looking at the possible “issues attached” to using the website.

“I don’t know why anybody can be bothered with that stuff,” he said.

“How do you find the time to do that? There are a million things you can do in your life without that.

“Get yourself down to the library and read a book. Seriously. It is a waste of time.

Rooney has collected more than 500,000 followers in less than a month

“It seems to have a certain momentum at the moment. Everyone seems to want to do it.”

Defender Rio Ferdinand is a prolific Tweeter, Michael Owen and Nani are regular users while Rooney recently joined the growing number of footballers with a large following after signing up last month.

The striker told one user “I’ll put u asleep within 10 seconds” when he replied to an abusive tweet before dismissing his words as “banter”.

However, a trio of footballers have been reprimanded by the Football Association for inappropriate comments made on their profiles.

West Ham players Carlton Cole and Danny Gabbidon have both fined and warned about their future conduct, along with former Liverpool striker Ryan Babel.

And Ferguson said his players must take greater responsibility, especially when conducting themselves off the pitch.

“They are responsible for their actions,” he said of his players.

“We as a club are looking at it Twitter because there can be issues attached to it. And we don’t want that.”

And the Scot dismissed the suggestion that Twitter brings the players closer to the supporters.

“It would be better if they did it on the pitch,” added Ferguson.