Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a withering attack on social networking website Twitter and hinted that his players could be banned from using it.
Rio Ferdinand is one of the most prolific users of Twitter among the United squad and has already attracted nearly a million followers. Wayne Rooney also has vast numbers who follow his observations about life, while Michael Owen and Nani are other members of the United squad that use the site.
"I don't understand it to be honest with you," Ferguson said. "I don't know why anybody can be bothered with that kind of stuff. How do you find the time to do that? There are a million things you can do in your life without that."
He added: "Get yourself down to the library and read a book. Seriously.
"It is a waste of time. It seems to have a certain momentum at the moment. Everyone seems to want to do it."
Ferguson certainly thinks anyone with a high profile needs to act with a huge degree of caution.
"It is responsibility. They are responsible for their actions," he said.
"We as a club are looking at it because there can be issues attached to it. And we don't want that."
When it was pointed out Twitter can bring players closer to supporters, Ferguson was equally scathing.
"It would be better if they did it on the pitch."
Source: PA
