The PFA sticking up for Babel. Nice to see.
PFA head Gordon Taylor has blasted the "precious" FA after the governing body charged Liverpool winger Ryan Babel over his Twitter posts.
Babel, who was angry that referee Howard Webb awarded Manchester United a match-deciding penalty in their FA Cup third round tie at the weekend, linked to a mocked-up picture of Webb wearing a Red Devils shirt.
He later removed the link and twittered an apology.
"(Webb) gives an early penalty and sends Stevie Gerrard off - the players aren't going to be pleased and, to some extent, it's just (Babel) giving his feelings," Taylor said on Radio Merseyside.
"Where's our sense of humour gone in our game? He's apologised - let's move on.
"From the FA's point of view, they may have got pressured by their own referees to say 'Look, we don't need these attacks on our referees'. But I would think Howard Webb is a big enough and good enough person for him to take it.
"I think they are looking to make an example, bearing in mind what's been said about referees.
"To my mind, and to most footballers' minds, it is the same sort of stuff that flies about every weekend via mobile phones, but they are obviously taking a stance on it. I thought a warning would have been sufficient."
He added that the stance taken was "very precious".
Babel was charged with improper conduct after initially writing: "And they call him one of the best referees? That's a joke. SMH (shaking my head)."
The Netherlands international, who has around 166,000 followers on the social networking tool, was also backed by new Reds manager Kenny Dalglish.
The Scot was furious that Webb awarded a spot-kick following Daniel Agger's minimal contact with Dimitar Berbatov in the first minute of Sunday's clash between the bitter rivals, branding the decision a "joke".
Ryan Giggs converted the chance and United went on to win 1-0 after Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard had been sent off.
Babel's later tweet read: "My apology if they take my posted picture seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game.
"Sorry Howard Webb."
It is not the first time that the winger has come under fire for his Twitter comments. A year ago he slammed then Reds boss Rafael Benitez, which reportedly almost led to him departing Anfield.