13 Sep 2011 21:53:46
A YOUNG Liverpool FC striker was today under investigation by the club after claiming 9/11 was not the work of terrorists.
Reserve team striker Nathan Eccleston, 20, has caused outrage after his posting on Twitter on the 10th anniversary of the atrocity.
In it, he claimed the attacks were "an accident" and that he believed the "Illuminati" – a shadowy society spread across the world – were responsible.
Eccleston, who has so far made nine appearances for the Reds, wrote: "I aint going to say attack don’t let the media make u believe that was terrorist that did it. #O.T.I.S."
OTIS stands for ‘Only The Illuminati Succeed’.
Now senior officials at the US-owned club have told the Manchester-born player he faces an investigation into his posting.
Today, the Tweet had been removed from his site.
An LFC spokesman said: "The club takes this matter extremely seriously and senior club officials have informed Nathan Eccleston that we are undertaking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding these postings and will decide on an appropriate course of action."
Fans were split over the striker’s actions.
Some took to internet message boards to defend him as "only young", saying he was allowed to voice an opinion.
But most slammed him, with some calling for him to never wear the shirt again and others labelling him as "idiotic, misinformed and basically stupid".
Eccleston joined LFC from Bury aged 15 and has spent time out on loan at Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic.
He gave up his number 39 shirt from last season’s squad when Craig Bellamy returned to Anfield last month.
Obviously someone didn't read the disclaimer at they'll of the page Ed.
dmedly {Ed001's Note - it's worrying that a player is getting into trouble for expressing an opinion.}
This footballer has every right to his opinion, everyone should get off his back.
Raz {Ed001's Note - he is not a bell end to be fair, he just has different beliefs. Everyone is entitled to their own belief, be they Nathan Eccleston or you or me or Chris. Unfortunately it seems you are only allowed to express your opinion if it agrees with what the PC brigade think. I have seen a load of people calling for a boycott of a rapper's record label because they didn't like his lyrics regarding soldiers. I just don't understand why they can't just not buy the record if they object to the lyrics. These days we have to have a witch hunt every time someone doesn't have the same opinion as everyone else.}