The FA has collected around £350,000 in fines from social-media-related offences, reports The Guardian. Since 2010-11 when Ryan Babel, then of Liverpool, became the first player to be censured after he posted a photograph of the referee Howard Webb mocked up in a Manchester United shirt, the FA has investigated 121 instances of inappropriate comments on social media.
Of those cases, 18 have resulted in no further action being taken; 27 resulted in warnings; 16 resulted in the participant being reminded of their responsibilities and 60 led to charges.
Of the charges, 33 have involved aggravated breaches of the rules which came into force in 2010 11 and were tightened up in May 2013 as part of English football's inclusion and anti-discrimination plan.
Added to the sanctioning element at that point was the introduction of an educational programme the FA considered as being important to guard against re-offending.
