Simply repeating a phrase

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It's all pedantic and annoying really. Why can people just say racist things if they want? If they do they can be equally ridiculed by those who are offended. We can't effectively police what people say, particularly these days.

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The problem is its a joke taken in by 3.3 million people (just checked my figures there!), many of whom hero worship Rio Ferdinand and look up to him and what he says.

It's completley the wrong message to send out to them, whether it's a joke or not. I hate when people harp on about the money footballers are on but it does make them role models and gives them certain responsibilities, especially on Twitter.

Add to the code of conduce that I presume footballers sign is the issue of 'ownership' of followers. Why does Rio Ferdinand have 3.3 million followers? Because he plays football for Manchester United in the Premier League and formerly for England and the Football Association. I think that's why they feel that they have some kind of jurisdiction over twitter.

*code of conduct

TGI

Are you saying people should be allowed to make racist comments?

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I agree education would be far better than fining them, a fine is irrelevant. It tries to send out some kind of message, but even that fails because everyone knows just how much the players are on, and that, in all probability, they won't really notice £45,000 gone missing from their account.

In some ways footballers are good role models. They have a target and they work incredibly hard to get there. That's something to be applauded and held up to kids as a good example.

In 2012 we know far more about footballers private lives though, and this makes them far less attractive as role models. I don't blame many of them for living the lives they do, many, if not most guys, in their 20's earning more than they can spend in a lifetime would lead similiar lifestyles. But like it or not they are looked up to because they are doing what millions of kids aspire to.