Social media platform Twitter have been made to apologise after Manchester United defender Phil Jones is mocked by their official UK account.
The online site says ‘being the target of online abuse is not easy to deal with’ on a dedicated help centre page about coping and reporting abuse.
Yet on Tuesday it acted in such behaviour when taking aim at the centre-back, with its verified @TwitterUK account posted the caption: “Name a better footballer than Phil Jones”.
Manchester United are said to have complained to Twitter about the subsequently deleted post, with the social network apologising to both club and player.
The England international has endured a tough season and missed out on the Europa League finals squad with an ankle injury.
Manchester United have reportedly decided against operating on Phil Jones’ knee injury amid concerns over a prolonged time on the sidelines for the defender.
However, with surgery likely to rule the 28-year-old out of action for the remainder of the year, The Mirror claims that the Red Devils have instead chosen to continue with the rehabilitation programme they had initially drawn up for Jones.
He last featured for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team in January’s FA Cup fourth round win at Tranmere Rovers, netting the fourth goal in a 6-0 thrashing.
A Twitter spokesperson said: “Our aim was to showcase our new product feature, conversation controls, which allows you to select who can reply to a Tweet.
“It was not our intention to cause upset and once we realised our mistake, we immediately deleted the Tweet.”
Premier League duo West Ham and Newcastle were reported to be planning on throwing Phil Jones a lifeline.
Jones, who has struggled for minutes under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, that Moyes is wanting more so that he can strengthen his defence.
The only barrier potentially stopping from the Hammers boss from getting his man is the asking price as he only signed a new four-year deal with Man Utd last year. West Ham were also credited with an interest in Jones back in March.
Lingard has also fallen out of favour with the new-look midfield of Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay all being picked over him and look set to stay for a while yet.
Both players are likely to exit the club in the next window with Solskjaer planning a big clear-out.
Would it be a good signing for the Hammers? There are some positives with experience being one of them.
As stated on the official Premier League website, Jones has played 200 times in the top-flight, helping to keep 60 clean sheets in that period.
Another plus is his defensive ability. Jones has won a total of 1051 duels in the Premier League, over 400 more than he has lost.
The only doubt would be the countless amount of fitness problems he has suffered in the past.
The centre-back has consistently missed matches due to various different issues in the last few seasons and if he can’t keep himself fit, then it might make the Hammers look for alternative targets.
JONES’ STATS:
Senior career
2009–2011 – Blackburn Rovers – 35 games (0 goals)
2011– Manchester United – 165 games (2 goals)
National team
2009–2010 – England U19 – 4 games (0 goals)
2010–2011 – England U21 – 9 games (0 goals)
2011– England – 27 games (0 goals)
Fans reacted on social media after Twitter apologise after Phil Jones is mocked by their official UK account…
Well not shit i feel bad for him he gets abused any time hes mentioned, he hasn’t posted on social media in years because of it, and said no one would come to his testimonial match it actually sad
— Concho (@ConchoOnDaBeat) August 12, 2020
We need to protect our own, and stand by him
— Jaja (@Jajamufc) August 12, 2020
That is so unprofessional from them tbh
— SpawNz (@spaw_nz) August 12, 2020
Of course people can.
But, rightly or wrongly, Phil Jones gets ALOT more jokes/jabs about him than almost any other player and it must be so draining to constantly be the butt of the joke.
— Jack (@JRCityFan) August 13, 2020
Always loved the Phil Jones chocolate bar ??? pic.twitter.com/sAYs0P3R0z
— . (@lallanaspjs) August 13, 2020
Hi @TwitterUK much love Phil Jones ?? pic.twitter.com/8LohVebPag
— Benjamin Brazil (@bennymufc) August 12, 2020
“You may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so”
???♂️???♂️@Twitter @TwitterUK – Maybe start following YOUR own rules and set the example before expecting everyone else to do so. pic.twitter.com/ng4qyOAjxn
— Danny Escorcio ?? (@Deco320) August 12, 2020
At what point do social media platforms get punished for endorsing trolling. @TwitterUK encouraging mental health awareness (rightly so) and then trying to shame Phil Jones. Can someone explain?
— Toby (@tobs1uk) August 12, 2020
I hate the shit Phil Jones gets on here. Hugely talented footballer when signed but injuries have totally messed his career up. Doesn’t deserve the abuse he gets, and now @TwitterUK sticks the boot in for a bit of football banter. Pathetic.
— Rob Maxwell (@bobbymaxwell) August 12, 2020
I always felt bad for Phil Jones after he turned down a testimonial because he didn’t think anybody would turn up.
He’s actually a good defender. Just annihilated through injuries. Never moaned, just got in with it.
Twitter can go to hell
— Cants (@cantsey) August 12, 2020
See that Twitter have deleted their Phil Jones tweet. Shouldn’t have been posted in the first place and makes a mockery of some of the nonsense they preach. Regardless of what you think of him, Twitter encouraging trolling for no reason isn’t good enough.
— Jay Motty (@JayMotty) August 12, 2020
So the same account that retweeted a tweet about mental illness, then goes on to mock Phil Jones. Outstanding hypocrisy. I think the mockery of Jones has gone too far. What happened to #BeKind ? pic.twitter.com/z1Rp3GUblW
— Alexei (@MUFC_redarmy99) August 13, 2020
And rightly so. The abuse Phil Jones gets on @Twitter from thousands upon thousands of mongoloids is appalling enough. Yes, he is no longer good enough for the highest level however he has achieved a lot more in his life than the aforementioned mongs ever have
— Scott (@SRowe87) August 12, 2020
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