England Shoot themselves in the foot yet again....

[Thinkerman]

Ferdinand to fight ban

 

 

Ferdinand is expected to play against Spurs on Sunday

Manchester United are planning an appeal against Rio Ferdinand's eight-month ban for missing a drugs test.

The defender's ban is due to start on 12 January, and United have until 5 January to lodge their appeal.

 

But Dick Pound, chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, warned: "He should be careful about his appeal as his sentence could be increased."

 

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Ferdinand will play against Spurs in the Premiership on Sunday.

 

Ferdinand's ban for missing a routine drugs test on 23 September means he will miss Euro 2004, the first month of next season and the opening round of qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup.

 

It's certainly a punishment that will not leave people thinking the FA has gone soft on drugs

 

Lord Coe

Analysis: How the FA's disciplinary process must change

Realistically, an appeal is likely to be heard in mid-February, and could significantly delay the start of the ban.

 

United director Maurice Watkins described the eight-month ban as "savage and unprecedented".

 

The club is angry that Manchester City defender Christian Negouai was only handed a £2,000 fine when he committed a similar offence last year.

 

Wenger criticises Fifa

And Ferguson attacked Fifa president Sepp Blatter and FA chief executive Mark Palios for insisting on a lengthy ban for his star defender.

 

The FA is setting up a think-tank to examine its doping procedure in the wake of the Ferdinand affair.

 

Former Olympic champion Lord Coe will be one of its members.

 

"I will have to look at the whole situation simply to make sensible observation about the way the FA conducts its doping tests in the future," he said.

 

He added that Ferdinand deserved to receive his ban.

 

"It is a punishment that, on balance, is proportionate and it's certainly a punishment that will not leave people thinking the FA has gone soft on drugs."

 

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who submitted a character reference for Ferdinand at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on Friday, will have to start preparing for life without his most influential player at last summer's World Cup finals.

 

England keeper David James, writing in The Times newspaper, said: "We saw from the last World Cup that no side can afford to lose its key squad members and, assuming that he does not overturn the decision, Rio's absence will be regarded as a big blow,"

 

Despite Ferdinand's testing week, he is expected to play against Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

 

I can't see an appeal even getting it reduced less than 6 months - that's still all our season

 

From Bishop Blaize

 

"He has a good temperament. It hasn't been an easy time for him but I am banking on that temperament helping him on Sunday," Ferguson said.

 

"Rio knows that when he comes here he is in a good environment and protective situation."

 

But he added he was concerned at the toll the affair had taken on the centre-half.

 

"In terms of handling football matches, Rio has been as laid back as he appears to be but, like every other human being, he is not unbreakable."