Last night on Twitter I read with interest and intrigue as Rio Ferdinand tore strips off journalist Ollie Holt for divulging the contents of a Direct Message Rio had sent Holt a few days earlier, which contained such profanities as "You fat prick". Just so you know, a Direct Message is essentially a private email sent through Twitter that only the sender and recipient can see. Holt divulged the contents of this private message to his sizeable following, hence Rio's fury.
Holt took exception to the "fat" chat and the insults ("Rio owns an Italian restaurant, what do you think they serve, salad?"), saying that his friends thought it was really bad what Rio had written in his DM, and that his mum was going to have a word with Rio's mum about it.
The question of whether it was appropriate for Holt to publish a private message in this way has been raised and sure, that's worth a debate, but so is the question of where this feud has all stemmed from in the first place?
Well, Holt had decided to query why Rio had missed the now infamous drug test that ended up with him being suspended for 8 months....back in 2003. Quite why he felt that this story was worth re-visiting here in 2011 is anyone's guess.
Apparently we are lead to believe that Holt began looking at the story prior to England's game with Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday, and Rio's "prick" email was sent to Holt prior to that match, having heard about the story.
Holt then quizzed Ferdinand on the subject in the mixed zone, an area where journalists line up to ask players questions after the game against the Swiss. Holt told us in his article in the Mirror that he was standing by the exit, so Rio had little option but to speak to him on the way out. Rio looked in a mood; as well he might, having been involved in such a drab stalemate.
What followed was a lively debate which resulted in Holt asserting to Ferdinand that he should have taken the drug test 8 years previously. Go figure.
Holts piece tells us that Lance Armstrong is standing trial for doping allegations. Oh, so is that why we're raking up Rio's past failings then?
Rio missed his test and got an 8 month suspension. He's done his time, why drag it up again now?
For good measure, Holt also dropped in the odd insult, affirming that yes Ferdinand was run ragged against Barcelona last week and that he was also at fault for the first Swiss goal at Wembley on Saturday. I think he also alleges Rio is sleeping with his wife, but obviously there's a super-injunction out against that, so I can't really talk about that story.
I'm all for free speech and to be fair to Holt, players really ought to be careful with what they say to journalists, whether it's on the record or not.
What does annoy me though is when a player who's done his time and apologised for mistakes he's made in the past is still getting grief for it years after the event actually took place from a journalist who clearly has an ulterior motive.
It's not relevant anymore Ollie, the football season is over now, go on holiday or watch some cricket or something.
Holt may have fancied a bit of publicity and thought, "It's a long time until the new season starts, everyone will have forgotten about this by then", but I wouldn't expect too many Manchester United exclusives from the Mirror next term as a result of this non-story.
Still, at least Holt's name is on the tip of everyones lips; he'll doubtless be back on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement next season, so I'm sure he's happy about that.
No comments:
Post a Comment