The English football Association has said that QPR midfielder Joey Barton should not be predicting the outcome of football matches on Twitter and various other social networking sites. This move comes as a major development in the fight against illegal football betting.

There have been various cases of illegal soccer betting in recent years, and it seems that social networking is only adding to the fuel.

Hence, the English football Association has come out with the decision to ban footballers from making tweets regarding the outcome of the football matches, which could in some way promote illegal soccer betting.

Even though this role will be mainly applicable to the players involved in the matches, the FA have taken the decision to warn most of the players who constantly tweet or use social networking sites. Some other players have been giving out information that might help punters with their Europa League betting.

QPR midfielder Joey Barton is one among them and there have already been complaints over the excessive usage of Twitter by the former England midfielder.

However, the newly appointed QPR manager Mark Hughes has said that the choice of using the various social networking sites rests entirely upon the person and it is something that he could not place a restriction upon. There have been different views regarding the usage of social networking by players.

“Just received my weekly warning letter from FA headquarters, this time regarding me tweeting about predicting the weekend’s Manchester double. According to the FA, I am not allowed to give my opinion of possible results in case that is seen as insider information. These people are so out of touch with reality it’s untrue,” Joey Barton said on his Twitter account.

Twitter has been somewhat beneficial for Joey Barton because it has helped him transform the bad boy image he has been acquiring at places like Manchester City and Newcastle United. I think I’m going to have to start following him – if only to get some euro 2012 betting tips!?