Own goal: Rio Ferdinand sparks CIA security alert as White House picture is pulled from Twitter
Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand sparked a CIA security alert when he posted a picture of White House security staff on Twitter during a guided tour.
The England international complained online after it appeared that his account on the micro-blogging site had been accessed when he realised the images had been deleted by Barack Obama's security staff.
Rio was left flummoxed when he realised it had disappeared and joked how he felt like he was being watched by someone like TV's counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer from 24.
What a twit: Rio Ferdinand sparked a White House security alert after posting a photo of security staff on Twitter
Tucking in: Manchester United players ate home-made White House cookies on their tour
The 32-year-old centre back was visiting the White House along with Alex Ferguson and his team mates as part of their pre-season tour of America.
The father-of-three told his army of over 1million Twitter followers how much he was enjoying the tour before posting pictures showing him in the state dinning room and then with security staff.
US President Barack Obama tweeted Rio Ferdinand prior to his arrival at the White House
He cheekily tweeted: 'the security needs beefing up here at the White House....!!'
Just seconds later the picture mysteriously vanished.
Rattled Rio tweeted: 'Whoa....some1 has got into my phone + taken down my pics off twitter....this is deep...is jack Bauer in Washington?!
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'What an experience having the opportunity to go into the White House, thank you.....now where are my pics????
And then: 'My pic of the security was #removed quick, rapido, sharpish, fast....they don't play here in DC...I feel like I'm on 24 right now #baffled.
Earlier he had joked that Obama had been messaging him about their impending meeting.
He tweeted: 'Just landed in Washington, kinda hot still! A guy of huge importance has just DM'd me + asked me to visit him...just checking my schedule!!
Rio constantly updated his Twitter account whilst touring the White House
Jack Bauer is the central and most capable character in the Counter Terrorism Unit in TV series 24
'Yes boss I got 1/2hrs so I'll pass through in a bit, will be good to catch up + put the world to rights! Do you have tetleys tea bags?!
More tweets followed: 'Sorry, my last tweet was a DM to my man Obama....my bad!! Looking forward to seeing the White House.
However, a planned meeting with the President was called off at the last minute because he had important state matters to attend to.
'Obama just DM'd me that some real big things are going on so he couldn't break off from the meeting #debt... #blanked!'
Oddly, pictures of himself posing in the state dining room and one of the team tucking into homemade White House biscuits were not taken down.
Michael Owen added: 'Had a tour around the White House. Unfortunately never met The President as he was locked in meetings but a great experience all the same.'
Soon after he realised his photo had been removed Rio tweeted: 'Whoa....some1 has got into my phone + taken down my pics off twitter....this is deep...is jack Bauer in Washington?!'
The Manchester United team were visiting the White House during their pre-season tour of the US
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