Conspiracy theory

Liverpool are opening an investigation into a tweet sent by their striker, Nathan Ecclestone.  The tweet in question was this, about the 9/11 attacks:

"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’.

Firstly, and I think I've complained about this before, but how does one launch an investigation into a tweet.  It's 140 characters, there's nothing hidden.  It says what it says.  It doesn't require investigating, even if it requires action.  Secondly, it raises questions about freedom of speech.  Just because this guy's a footballer does he sign away his rights to have an opinion?  Are footballers required to be on, representing their club 24/7?  Surely not.  The opinion has nothing to do with the club, with Liverpool, so I don't see how it becomes a club matter.  Yes, the opinion may very well be silly (and I say this as someone who used to have a friend who spouted that type of nonsense.  Needless to say, all the "evidence" cited in the conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11 turn out to be rubbish), but are we not grown up as a society to let our footballers speak their mind, or, as we might put it, aren't we grown up enough as a society to let our citizens have freedom of speech. Liverpool, no football club, should be allowed to take that away.

Perhaps more important is the second half of that Independent story:

Kenny Dalglish yesterday met the referees' chief, Mike Riley, at Melwood to discuss his claims that Liverpool are not being treated fairly by officials. The Liverpool manager said: "We have never wanted preferential treatment, simply a level playing field," he said after the meeting.

 I don't think it's a coincidence that this has been put in with the conspiracy theory story, because this would appear to be the biggest smokescreen ever.  Everyone knows that Liverpool get every referee's decision going, and no amount of distraction from Dalglish is going to change that - maybe it was just an elaborate way to hand over the brown envelope...