Michael Chopra: Blackpool fine striker for derogatory tweet

Blackpool striker Michael Chopra has been fined over £10,000 by the club and warned about his future conduct after comments he made on social media.

Chopra, 30, used expletives in a post on Twitter after only six players turned up for training.

A club statement read: "Chopra was one of a number of players asked to report to training as normal for extra work with the fitness coach.

"Both the manager and chairman are aware and disappointed with his tweet."

The statement continued: "The player, who has the right to appeal, has since apologised for the tweet and removed the contents from his account.

"The manager has requested that the fine levied against Chopra, which equates to more than £10,000, be donated to the club's Community Trust."

The former Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff forward is one of a number of footballers to be reprimanded for comments made on Twitter, the most high-profile being Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole, who were both fined by the Football Association in 2012.

Chopra, who once represented England at youth level, revealed in November 2011 that he had lost as much as £2m through betting and last year testified in the trial of three men who were convicted in a £750,000 cocaine trial.