Carlton have been fined $7500 after three of their players used social media to criticise AFL umpires.

And coach Brett Ratten has been given a formal warning for more veiled comments about the whistleblowers in his press conference after last Thursday night’s loss to West Coast in Perth.

Injured trio Marc Murphy, Jarrad Waite and Jeremy Laidler used their Twitter accounts to vent their feelings over the officiating.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said that was no different to using any other public forum.

“A player’s use of social media to make comments around umpiring will be subject to the AFL’s rules in exactly the same way as comments made in a formal interview or any other media environment,” Anderson said.

“The AFL competition must continue to set a positive example on conduct towards umpires.”

The league took into account that the players had apologised.

But the sanction did not dull Laidler’s enthusiasm for Twitter, the Blues backman making light of his penalty within minutes of it being announced.

“Looking for a part time job to clear up a few bills. Any suggestions??” he tweeted.

On Thursday night, Laidler had used Twitter to accuse officials of penalising players who were first to the ball.

Murphy tweeted: “Ruined a good game those blokes.”

Waite re-tweeted a quip from his wife suggesting West Australian umpire Dean Margetts should get three Brownlow votes as best afield.

Ratten made a seeming reference to the favourable free kick record the Eagles enjoy at home when questioned post-match about some crucial decisions.

“What can you say? You come here knowing that that’s the lay of the land,” he said.