Soccer: Blatter blocks Rio’s route to court

OUTSPOKEN FIFA president Sepp Blatter has blocked Rio Ferdinand’s path to civil action over his eight-month ban imposed for missing a drugs test.

The Manchester United defender is still considering his options after being hit by what he called the “thunderbolt” of the massive suspension imposed last Friday after his failure to take a drugs test at his club’s Carrington training ground on September 23.

Old Trafford officials are furious with the verdict and in particular Blatter’s regular interventions during the three months between the failed test and the actual hearing.