Premier League clubs 'inserted clause' into all player contracts after what ex-Liverpool player posted in 2011

Premier League clubs began to 'insert' a special clause in player contracts following an unprecedented incident involving a Liverpool star in 2011.

Back in January 2011, Liverpool travelled to Manchester United for a third round FA Cup tie at Old Trafford in what was Kenny Dalglish's first game back in charge of the Reds following Roy Hodgson's sacking.

United won 1-0 through an early penalty from Ryan Giggs, while Steven Gerrard was sent off for a rash challenge on Michael Carrick.

Howard Webb, having officiated the World Cup final months before, was the man in the middle for the tie and Liverpool winger Ryan Babel went after him on social media.

Twitter, now known as X, was only in its infancy at the time and Babel proceeded to post a photoshopped picture of Webb in a United shirt - complete with the caption, And they call him one of the best referees? That's a joke. SMH [shake my head]."

In the Premier League, there had been no previous instance of a player producing a post slamming a referee and so there was no precedent.

Although he apologised for his conduct, the FA decided to make an example of Babel by charging him £10,000 upon the conclusion of a hearing.

"Social network sites, like Twitter, must be regarded as being in the public domain," regulatory commission chairman Roger Burden said.

"All participants need to be aware, in the same way as if making a public statement in other forms of media, that any comments would be transmitted to a wider audience. It is their responsibility to ensure only appropriate comments are used."

The image Ryan Babel posted online. Image: X/@TheKop_com

Babel resulted in major change to contracts

Babel's situation prompted a shifting of gears as following on from his case, he claims clubs began to include the use of social media in player contracts as activity on platforms became increasingly popular.

He spoke about the incident in an appearance on the SDS podcast and revealed how the laws were changed.

"In my opinion he made some wrong decisions that cost us the game. So when we were on the Liverpool bus, I tweeted a few tweets. I tweeted something like, 'They call him the best referee, don't make me laugh'.

"And then I tweeted that with a Howard Webb picture, in a Manchester United kit. If you think about it, it's kind of like banter. [It went] viral, CNN, Sky Sports - everywhere.

"Two days late Liverpool called me in their office, legal was there. They were like, 'Ryan, the FA, they want to fine you and they don't know how to deal with it'. Because it had never happened.

"I had to go to London to be in court with the FA. I remember sitting there and they had like four older gentleman and they were like, 'Ryan Babel, this has never happened before and we don't know how to deal with it but to make an example out of you, we have to fine you and suspend you'. And I had a £10,000 fine.

"Because of that, I think years after they start putting in contracts, social media use - 'If you put our club in jeopardy, we fine you'.

"Because of me they changed the laws on everything."

Babel played 146 times for the Merseysiders, scoring 22 goals. The former Ajax man later returned to the Premier League for a brief spell with Fulham in the 2018/19 campaign.

He remains the first Premier League player to be fined for a tweet.