SOCCER:RYAN BABEL is facing the possibility of disciplinary action from the English Football Association after responding to Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford yesterday by posting a mocked-up photo on his Twitter site of the referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt.
Webb had incensed Liverpool by awarding a first-minute penalty when Dimitar Berbatov went to ground after a slight touch from Daniel Agger and then sending off Steven Gerrard for a dangerous challenge on Michael Carrick.
Kenny Dalglish, returning as Liverpool manager, called the penalty “a joke” and Babel posted the picture of Webb with the message: “And they call him one of the best referees? That’s a joke. SMH.”
“SMH” is the abbreviation for “shaking my head” and Babel’s attack will almost certainly lead to the FA intervening on the basis that he is alleging bias on the part of the man who refereed the World Cup final and was made an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list in Britain. An FA spokesman has confirmed they are aware of the incident and are looking into it.
Babel later tweeted: “Sorry Howard Webb. My apology if they take my posted pic seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game.”
Dalglish’s son, Paul, also vented his feelings on Twitter, posting a mocked-up picture of Alex Ferguson with his arm around Webb, again in a United shirt.
Dalglish junior wrote: “Howard Webb MBE. Manc of the Busby Era. I am not normally bitter, as you know, but it is different rules against them.”
In a separate tweet, he added: “Fergie has his puppet Howard Webb on a piece of string.”
Manchester United’s reward for beating Liverpool is a fourth-round clash at League One side Southampton.
The Saints, who beat Premier League side Blackpool 2-0 on Saturday, will face Ferguson’s men at St Mary’s on the weekend of January 29th/30th.
There could be as many as five all top-flight ties, with Bolton drawn at home to Wigan, Fulham up against Tottenham, winners over Charlton yesterday, and Aston Villa taking on Blackburn.
Holders Chelsea will travel to Everton, while the winners of the replays between Doncaster and Wolves and Stoke and Cardiff will meet.
League Two side Stevenage, who caused the shock of the round by beating Newcastle 3-1 on Saturday, will welcome Reading to the Lamex Stadium, while Birmingham take on Coventry in a midlands derby.
Leeds and Arsenal will replay next week with a home tie against League One promotion hopefuls Huddersfield awaiting the winner, while West Ham will be at home to Nottingham Forest and Watford play Brighton.
The winners of Manchester City’s replay with Leicester will head to Notts County, surprise winners at Sunderland on Saturday, while Swansea will play Leyton Orient and Burton Albion will travel to Burnley.
The winner of tonight’s game between Crawley and Derby will head to Torquay, while Sheffield Wednesday will be at home to the winner of the replay between Wycombe and Hereford.
