Fulham officials went to the elaborate measure of setting-up a fake Facebook account purporting to be a 16-year-old female fan, in order to educate the club's youth team players about the dangers of social media.

Former Fulham manager Kit Symons revealed the Cottagers had implemented the exercise to give the players a 'shock'.

"Some of the young players fell for it as real. It was a short, sharp shock," Symons told The Times.

"You can tell lads about getting caught out and they'll think 'oh they won't catch me' and then that happens, they are caught.

"There are 30 lads you are father to. You hope when they are away from the working environment that their decision-making is sound."