Money Matter$
Spurs fans have a good reason to boycott social networking site

In addition to owning nearly 30 per cent of Arsenal football club, lovable Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov owns a chunk of Facebook. Digital Sky Technologies (DST) - a company in which the rotund ex-con* has a 32 per cent share - have already invested $200m into the popular social networking site, and are looking to strengthen their grip:
[A further investment] will give DST 1.54 percent more of Facebook, for a total of 3.5 percent of the company. That makes DST-based in London and Moscow-one of the bigger Facebook investors, with a stake larger than one owned by Microsoft (MSFT).
Tottenham fans who like to spend half their day updating banal statuses and stalking ex girlfriends should bear this in mind: each time you log on to Facebook, you are helping to line the pockets of the man who owns your biggest rivals.
*Usmanov has been known to crush websites that make reference to his incredibly shady past, so you’ll have to do your own research on that one.
Tags: Alisher Usmanov, Arsenal, Digital Sky Technologies, Facebook, Owner
Posted: July 14th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Virtual Split
Heather Swan finds modern way of parting with husband

If Hollywood films are to be believed, married couples only split up while driving in the rain, or when angrily throwing crockery around the kitchen as a child weeps in the next room. Michael Chopra and wife Heather Swan, however, have defied cinematic convention by using a social networking site to part with one another.
The couple - who have a son named Rocky - had a lavish £250,000 wedding last June. They are said to have bickered throughout their honeymoon, and Chopra moved into rented accommodation shortly after. The Mirror says Heather delivered the final blow to the on-loan Cardiff star by changing her relationship status on Facebook:
Reality TV star Heather Swan, 24, changed her status to single on the social website after just seven months of marriage and let others tell Michael.
The £30,000-a-week Sunderland striker, 25, hit back by axing her mobile phone contract, declaring on his own Facebook page: “Heather will have a new number tomorrow, ha ha.”
We had no idea divorces were this easy. If only Paul McCartney had been a Facebook member…
Tags: Cardiff, Facebook, Heather Swan, Marriage, Michael Chopra, Sunderland, WAG
Posted: February 13th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Not a Nazi
Old Lady captain offended by fake profile

For those of us who haven’t figured out why the hell anyone would want to use Twitter, Facebook still stands at the peak of the internet timewasting mountain.
Plenty of footballers are registered on the social networking site (including racist and plain stupid ones), but none of the 255 Alessandro Del Piero registered profiles are the Juventus captain. In particular, the profile which suggests he is a Nazi is not his:
Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero is preparing to take legal action against the social networking site Facebook after a fake profile with his name and image appeared on it.
The profile had links to a Nazi propaganda group and it contains pictures of Del Piero, which have led the striker to consider taking action for defamation.
ANSA claims the player’s agent and brother, Stefano, has announced that Del Piero will be contacting his lawyers to protect his image. The player’s entourage have made it clear that the Nazi-linked profile has nothing to do with him, and they have stated that Del Piero has never had a profile on the Facebook site.
[Goal.com]
Spoiler bonus: As an Italian footballer, Del Piero has his pick of the world’s greatest selection of WAGs. He wisely chose Valeria Marini
Tags: Alessandro Del Piero, Facebook, Juventus, Nazi
Posted: February 6th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Racist News
Oxford Utd lad spreads hatred via social networking site

In the summer we brought you news of the Crystal Palace youngster who revealed an impending transfer to Fulham on his facebook feed (unsurprisingly, it fell through), and now another footballer has been misusing the popular website.
Oxford Utd midfielder Sam Deering broke his leg during a Boxing Day tie, and decided it would be best to make his friends aware of his hosiptal recovery through the intertubes. Deering changed his Facebook status to “Sam is not very amused in this hospital bed, so bored!” A concerned friend then joked: “Hope you have got some sexy nurses looking after you.” The 21-year-old winger then casually replied: “Nah, there [sic] f***ing pakis LOL.”
Over 1,000 Facebook users were able to see his comment. Idiot.
[Off The Post]
Tags: broken leg, Facebook, Hospital, Oxford Utd, Racism, Sam Deering
Posted: January 2nd, 2009 by Ryan Bailey
Change We Can Believe In
America’s most famous West Ham fan wanted at The Emirates

He might be a tad busy at the moment, but some optimistic Facebook users think Barack Obama would be the perfect replacement for Arsene Wenger. If you agree, join the campaign!
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Barack Obama, Facebook, West Ham
Posted: November 4th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Online Gaffer
Spurs boss resorts to internet to make friends

[click image to enlarge]
Tags: Facebook, Juande Ramos, Social networking, Tottenham
Posted: October 23rd, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Link Dump
Also appearing on a computer near you…
Video footage of West Ham’s American crowd trouble has emerged. See more here.
The brand new Lotus Evora was revealed at the British Motor Show, and she’s real purdy
[Grid Crasher]
The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup looks a helluva lot prettier than the Premier League
[Machochip]
Swedish burger chain Defies McDonald’s and UEFA
[The Offside]
Aussie golfer Anna Rawson is lonely, single and extremely hot
[WithLeather]
Anyone following the Swamp World Cup?
[Reuters]
Palace youngster apologises for Facebook gaffe
[The Gaffer]
Tags: Anna rawson, British Motor Show, Columbus Crew, Crystal Palace, Facebook, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Golf, Lotus Evora, McDonalds, Swamp World Cup, UEFA, West Ham
Posted: July 23rd, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Social networking Gaffe
Winger is a little bit indiscreet about move across London

It would be a lot easier for the world to follow the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga if he declared all his professional movements to the world through his Facebook status. Crystal Palace’s young winger Ashley-Paul Robinson has done exactly this, allowing all 2.7million people on the London network to see where his career is heading.
Ashley-Paul, who has yet to master the English language, wrote “Ashley-Paul is goin fulham on monday. If i pull dis off im on dis ting,” on Saturday. Obviously believing this was not subtle enough, he followed it up with “Ashley-Paul Is Travling 2 Bath With Fulham Fingers Crossed. (Im lukin 2 Get Sum Tips Of Jimmy Bullard He’s ON DIS TING NO HYPE LOL !” on Sunday.
Yesterday afternoon, he realised he has absolutely no security on his profile and that people had become aware of this private negotiation, and declared: “Ashley-Paul has been very naughty lol !”
A Crystal Palace spokesperson has said they are thoroughly embarrassed by his behaviour, and Robinson has every reason equally abashed - check out his Facebook profile picture:

Tags: Ashley-Paul Robinson, Crystal Palace, Facebook, Fulham, Transfer
Posted: July 8th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey