Darren Bent fined £80,000 for Twitter rant

Whenever you post something in the public domain you need to be careful because you never know who will see it. Posting articles on your website, information to your Facebook profile or your thoughts on Twitter isn’t like writing in your diary or talking with your friends. Because of the power of SEO, any number of people could read what you write, and when you’re a celebrity in the public light, everything you do will be followed and scrutinised.

That’s just what happened to Tottenham footballer Darren Bent as he ranted about his former club on Twitter, right before his move to Sunderland. Bent was about to set off for Tottenham’s pre-season tour, and was even strapped into his seat on the plane, before he was dragged off in front of his teammates to be sold to Sunderland.

Bent was being sold to Sunderland for £12 million as Spurs had just completed the signing of Crouch for £9 (a good deal for Spurs all round) when the Tottenham chairman tried to hike the price up for Bent.

Darren Bent felt he was being used as a pawn and was frustrated at the way his career was on hold while the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, argued over his fee. Bent wrote on his Twitter some heartfelt, but ill advised comments directed at Levy:

Seriously getting p***** off now

Why can’t anything be simple. It’s so frustrating hanging round doing jack s***.

Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go stoke NO do I wanna go sunderland YES so stop f****** around, Levy. Sunderland are not the problem in the slightest.

Bent has since realised his mistake and has apologised for the comments. The Twitter account he used has also been closed down. Bent has now been fined £80,000 by Spurs, and the chances of his deal being completed look remote as well, with Sunderland manager Steve Bruce not being pleased with his potential signing’s outburst.

Bent added:

I appreciate that transfers are seldom straightforward and are often complex. However, after a long period of waiting following my withdrawal from the plane to China, I had become incredibly frustrated by the time these things take and I posted inappropriate comments on my Twitter site.

I allowed my emotions to get in the way of my better judgment. I regret my actions and did not intend to offend Daniel Levy or anyone with the nature or the content of my posting.

This shows again that you need to be very careful what you write on social networking websites, especially if you’re in the middle of a job search as Darren Bent was, and are looking to sign for a new employer.