Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has warned his squad about using Twitter after midfielder James McClean was involved in another social network row.
After the latest episode O’Neill told the press conference in Poznan – where the Republic face Poland in a friendly tonight – that he will have to consider squad rules on the social networking site.
“I don’t want to be a guru over this social media but I just think there has to be a bit of responsibility,” said the 61-year-old.
"Sometimes I don’t think [players] realise, after all this time, this is a public media and anything you say is just picked up.
“Even before I arrived here there was a match-day ban, or even a two-day ban, and I’m just experiencing these things again but let me have a look at it.
McClean called the Belfast Telegraph “a bitter sectarian paper” over the weekend in a tweet that has since been deleted.
The 24-year-old is no stranger to controversy on Twitter, and has twice been banned from using it by former club Sunderland – coincidentally when O’Neill was boss of the Black Cats.
However, O’Neill was quick to remind the press that while he will look at the issue, he won’t act rashly.
“If I’m going to leave players out if they’ve tweeted I’ll be in serious trouble down the line,” said the Ireland manager.
If James doesn’t start [on Tuesday] night it won’t be anything to do with the tweeting but I’ll still have to have a word.”
McClean’s latest comments on Twitter were believed to be in relation to an article in the Belfast Telegraph about the infamous 1993 fixture between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
O’Neill has not yet named his starting XI for the Poland game but captain Robbie Keane is expected to start on the bench because of an Achilles problem.
Source: DSG
