Retractions sought by FA as formal review of Ferdinand affair begins

THE FA yesterday announced they have begun a formal review of the Rio Ferdinand affair and made clear their intention to seek a retraction of some of the damaging criticism aimed at the organisation.

Ferdinand will have a personal interview with Steve Barrow, the head of the FA's compliance unit, at a secret location today as a repercussion of the Manchester United defender missing a drugs test on September 23.

He is sure to be charged following the interview, but the exact charge will determine the severity of his punishment if found guilty.

There are two possible charges which come under the misconduct category: failure to attend an anti-doping test and wilful failure to attend an anti-doping test. The second charge is a far more serious offence, would carry a definite ban and to be proved needs evidence of a deliberate attempt to avoid the drug testers.

At the same time, other officials in the FA will turn their attention to claims made about the Ferdinand affair last week. However, as peace talks have already taken place with Manchester United it is likely that Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA will be the man targeted.

The FA will only involve lawyers as a last resort but are furious at some of the remarks made about football's governing body, especially claims they revealed Ferdinand's identity and breached confidentiality. They also believe some of the criticism contributed to the England players' threat to boycott the Turkey match.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has had two conversations with FA executives since Friday, one with Barber and the other with FA chief executive Mark Palios. The result of these has been to see peace break out between the parties.

The PFA are another matter however and Taylor is sticking to his guns, that by leaving Ferdinand out of the England squad they were effectively identifying him.

Ferdinand, who claims he forgot about the test as he was moving house on that day, did eventually take and pass a test 36 hours later, but that will not have any bearing on his interview or any subsequent disciplinary hearing.