29-01-2010, 12:24 PM
Sir Alex not a happy bunny, although he accepts Rio's ban:
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson accepts the suspension of Rio Ferdinand but believes the Football Association is conflicting itself with regards to the matter of discipline.
Defender Ferdinand begins a four-match ban on Sunday, when United travel to Arsenal, after the FA charged him with violent conduct before deeming an appeal from the 31-year-old as frivolous.
The England international received the punishment after replays showed that he swung an elbow in the face of Hull City's Craig Faganin United's 4-0 win at Old Trafford last weekend.
Ferguson understands Ferdinand's ban but he believes that the FA is sending mixed messages by not clamping down on similar issues throughout all divisions in English football.
"There are conflicting ways in which these decisions are being viewed," he said.
"I watched the game between Leyton Orientand Charlton on Monday and there was an elbow on the Charlton player three times as he was running with the ball.
"But nothing has happened with that.
"There is a lot of confusion there, although we accept that for tomorrow, Rio is banned."
It has been suggested that United's appeal on behalf of Ferdinand was a calculated gamble in order to buy the time that would allow the defender to play in Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.
Source: skysports.com
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson accepts the suspension of Rio Ferdinand but believes the Football Association is conflicting itself with regards to the matter of discipline.
Defender Ferdinand begins a four-match ban on Sunday, when United travel to Arsenal, after the FA charged him with violent conduct before deeming an appeal from the 31-year-old as frivolous.
The England international received the punishment after replays showed that he swung an elbow in the face of Hull City's Craig Faganin United's 4-0 win at Old Trafford last weekend.
Ferguson understands Ferdinand's ban but he believes that the FA is sending mixed messages by not clamping down on similar issues throughout all divisions in English football.
"There are conflicting ways in which these decisions are being viewed," he said.
"I watched the game between Leyton Orientand Charlton on Monday and there was an elbow on the Charlton player three times as he was running with the ball.
"But nothing has happened with that.
"There is a lot of confusion there, although we accept that for tomorrow, Rio is banned."
It has been suggested that United's appeal on behalf of Ferdinand was a calculated gamble in order to buy the time that would allow the defender to play in Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.
Source: skysports.com