FERDINAND WARNED AGAINST AN APPEAL

“Obviously I have not seen all the evidence and I would not
like to prejudge the case, but my own personal view is that
this ban was rather lenient. And I would be more inclined,
if the evidence supports it, to increase it to the minimum
of one year, which is in accordance with the FIFA guidelines
on missing a dope test.

“One other point is if he had been suspended on September
23, he would have only had to have served another two months
and would have been able to play in Euro 2004. I think the
case has been very badly handled, not only by the FA but
also by his advisors.”

{Euro 2004 may have been the most important thing to Rio,
but it certainly wasn’t, and nor should it have been, to
United. The effect of starting his ban early in the hope of
it being reduced and allowing him to play for England in the
summer has finished our season. Surely every player at
United should adhere to two rules; 1 – United > England, 2 –
Never trust the FA. – ed}