Ferdinand locks horns with senior sports journalist on Twitter

The Manchester United first team continues its interesting relationship with Twitter. First there were injunctions, then came hair transplants and now a war of words with the Daily Mirror’s chief sportswriter, Oliver Holt.

Perhaps surprisingly, it’s from United’s godfather of the social network, Rio Ferdinand, who didn’t take kindly to Holt’s references to his missed drugs test in relation to Kolo Toure’s ban for using his wife’s slimming pills.

While Holt admits that he doesn’t believe Ferdinand had anything to hide when he missed his drugs test 8 years ago, "I'll never know for sure if I'm right.”

In response Ferdinand sent the journalist a direct message (DM) via Twitter: “You fat prick. U got something to say about me missing a drugs test say it when u see me. You have had many opportunities but said nothing.”

When they did next meet - at the mixed zone following the England draw against Switzerland - Holt reports that the conversation was somewhat heated, with security eventually stepping in - you can read the full article on the Mirror here.

Last night the debate resurfaced, when Holt published the direct message on Twitter and then in an article for this morning’s paper.

Other journalists, not least Henry Winter, the Daily Telegraph’s football correspondent joined in:

“Apologies to @rioferdy5 & everyone for being late to the debate. Its great for players/journos to exchange views. I wouldn't repeat a DM tho,” typed Winter.

“Got to love @rioferdy5 whingeing and whining about this DM business. And @henrywinter too, for that matter. Not like it was any big secret,” added Holt later.

Holt says the debate is not about whether to publish a DM, but “actually about drug testing and the need to observe the rules if sport is to have any chance of staying clean.”

While direct messages are private and therefore don’t show up on any public Twitter timeline, many reporters would argue that they count as justifiable and attributable quotes.

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