Ferdinand left to await his fate

RIO FERDINAND yesterday pleaded his case in front of Football Association chiefs as he was left to await a decision on whether he faces a misconduct charge for failing to take a drugs test.

Ferdinand, who was accompanied by Professional Footballer's Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, spent two hours locked in a meeting in Manchester with FA head of compliance Steve Barrow.

The England defender is expected to be charged by the FA later this week, but was attempting to persuade the governing body not to hit him with the most serious charge of wilfully missing the test.