FIFA issue stern warning on delay in Ferdinand case

THE Football Association were yesterday reprimanded by FIFA president Sepp Blatter for the delay in dealing with the Rio Ferdinand case and warned about their failure to implement rules on immediate suspensions for red cards.

Ferdinand has been charged with misconduct for failure/refusal to attend a drugs test on September 23 and it is almost certain to be December before he appears before an FA disciplinary hearing.

Blatter said the case of the Manchester United defender had already taken far too long.