Australian football players have been banned from reading blogs as reading blogs causes depression, according to the Australian Football League Players Association (AFLPA).

The AFLPA contends that blogs don’t provide any decent feedback, and are racist, carry sexual overtones, are a form of bullying and only provide titillation.

The AFLPA is also calling on people to boycott fan sites due to the criticism of players dished out.

Pippa Grange, AFLPA:

“I wouldn’t encourage any players to use them. I think it’s for bloggers, and I think it’s mostly for titillation rather any decent feedback…I wouldn’t encourage any players to use them. I think it’s for bloggers, and I think it’s mostly for titillation rather any decent feedback,” There’s no restriction of what people are able to do with the internet…blogging on websites about players is a form of bullying, it’s public bullying of people in celebrity positions.

And even worse is the huge plague of fake footballers:

More serious, she said, were players’ identities being taken by bloggers. “The biggest thing I’ve encountered in my role where it’s been a problem is where people take the identity of the player and claim to be making comments on behalf of the player,” she said. “They get obviously quite upset about that.”

Lets break down what the AFLPA is saying here: fans shouldn’t express a negative opinion about a player, this should only be the role of the mainstream media. People should boycott fan sites and definitely never pretend to be a footballer.

It’s like 2002 called and they want their retarded child back.

The notion that all blogs are bad on the basis that some are is similar to someone saying all footballers are bad because some take drugs, beat up women and regularly get drunk. Blogs have long since moved on from personal playthings and are even the basis for multi-million dollar businesses. Would Grange call for a boycott of the mainstream media because they criticize a player?

Calling for a boycott of fan sites is even stranger again; fandom encourages participation in the sport. In calling for a boycott of fan sites Grange is calling for a boycott of fandom itself. Do football clubs want less members, less people through the gate on the weekend, and less people watching the game on TV?

When did criticism of a football player become bullying? Does Grange expect the public to only think positive thoughts about players and never express a negative thought? The celebrity angle is interesting as well; Grange argues that as celebrities they should be left alone, but doesn’t the very exposure lead to negative as well as positive coverage? If they don’t want the coverage, get out of the game.

A sad attempt at censorship from people who should know better.

(via The HeraldSun)