Social Media and FIFA World Cup 2010 Players

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June 14, 2010 3 Comments

Now that the FIFA World Cup 2010 is in full swing, players have been advised not to use social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, as it may effect the way in which they play. Players will not have the opportunity to tweet, poke, buzz or checkin.

According to Mashable, big teams such as Brazil, Germany, Argentina and England have so far banned their team members from using any social media sites.

In recent times, during the American football and basketball seasons, it has been apparent that players in the NFL, are prohibited from using all social media sites during all games, and for a 90 minute period to and following a game.
With so many of us tuning into the South African World Cup 2010 via the web and having the opportunity to talk about the matches, is it unfair to expect world class players not to participate in these conversations?

Are the coaches for these teams doing us a favor by imposing a strict ban, therefore the players would be more focused for the matches that lay ahead? Tell us what you think?

To read more about this check out Mashable

Filed Under: Social Media News, Trending Tagged With: FIFA World Cup 2010, Football

http://intensedebate.com/profiles/woodcolin woodcolin

As a fan and user of social media myself I think it would be great to read Tweets and updates from players in the World Cup. But as someone who has worked in the media side of football for many years I know that the expectancy of fans and media needs to be managed alongside the needs of the team to get results.

If a coach feels that controlling social media channels (or blocking them for a few weeks) will help the team get results then they should exercise that position. The teams will make players available for media interviews as they see fit and the world's media will lap it up but as a media manager you would not want to be taken by surprise by a player making an inappropriate remark through a social media platform. It could also put a strain on the squad as a whole due to the huge magnifying lens that is put on every single aspect of every nation competing at the World Cup.

Whether or not a comment made on Twitter would have a detrimental effect on a player or team's performance is open to debate of course but if you were in charge of a team you would want to ensure every chance of success in the world's greatest sporting competition.

There remain hundreds and thousands of pundits having their say on the World Cup via social media so to block players' comments I don't feel is a major loss. Social media also provides an appropriate conduit to what is being said by players via the mainstream media so I don't feel I am missing out by not receiving direct updates from players.
http://www.facebook.com/KelsiGuidry Kelsi Guidry

I'm not a follower of FIFA or any other sports leagues, but I understand the reason for banning social media from the players around game time. This is huge events and the players must be completely focused.
However, I don't think a total ban should be made. How cool would it be if I could go onto twitter and chat back and forth with one of my favorite players that just won the game or support my favorite player who just lost. Having the chance to hear what they really have to say after the game would be really neat.
Although there is a ban, I don't think we will me missing out on anything and this is a way to protect the players from those who would affect the mental states of the players
Kelly

I don't like this new social media policy in the world cup because I would love to hear what players are saying about their experience. Maybe they should let some parts of social media accessible, like what Palo Alto Networks is striving for. Here's a link to a whitepaper they have created on the topic of blocking social media: http://bit.ly/d2NZRp