Ferguson stunned by Ferdinand appeal failure

BELEAGURED Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has revealed there is a 'sense of shock' around Old Trafford at Rio Ferdinand's failed missed drugs test appeal.

Ferguson had been confident a three-man independent panel would cut Ferdinand's lengthy suspension in London on Thursday, rather than uphold it as they eventually did.

It means United's £29.3 million signing will be banned from the sport until September 20 unless he takes his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a move which is looking increasingly unlikely.

"We are disappointed," admitted Ferguson. "Everyone is. There is a sense of shock about it.

"We need to wait for written clarification of the judgement, then absorb, digest and seek counsel on it before deciding what to do next."

The news will have come as a devastating blow to Ferguson, who is staring at a mini crisis following a devastating Champions League exit to Porto and an horrendous 4-1 derby-day reverse last Sunday, a defeat that saw United fall 12 points adrift of Premiership title favourites Arsenal.

Having opted against bringing in a new defender during the January transfer window because he believed Ferdinand would not be forced out of the game for an excessive length of time, the long-serving Red Devils boss must try to patch up a leaky defence that has conceded 20 goals in the last 10 games.

Ferguson must also grapple with a mounting injury list and ensure Ferdinand retains a sense of solidarity with the remainder of the squad.

With back-to-back encounters with Arsenal looming after tomorrow's clash with Tottenham, Ferguson has little time for counselling his star defender at the moment.

Ferguson named skipper Roy Keane, striker Louis Saha, midfield trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba as the injury victims, while Gary Neville serves the final game of his four-match ban.

As the recriminations over Sunday's Eastlands fiasco rumbled through the week, even Ferguson has not escaped from criticism.

Some critics have suggested it is time for the 62-year-old to stand aside, opinions that have been greeted with a dismissive shrug.

Meanwhile Arsene Wenger called for drugs tests to be carried out after every Barclaycard Premiership game as he insisted that the Football Association had "no choice" but to uphold Rio Ferdinand's eight-month ban.

Wenger admitted he feels "sorry" for the Manchester United defender, but believes the credibility of the entire drugs-testing procedures was at stake during his appeal hearing.

Wenger said: "Whether Rio Ferdinand is guilty or not, I don't personally know. The FA took a decision which wasn't really considering the Ferdinand case, but the credibility of the drug tests. The warning is that players will not get away with it.