Blatter attacks FA handling of Rio case

FIFA President Sepp Blatter hit out at the English FA yesterday for its handling of the Rio Ferdinand affair, saying the Manchester United defender should have been dealt with “within a week.”

Ferdinand is due to appear before an FA hearing on December 18 to explain why he failed to take a mandatory drugs test in September, but the player has continued to play for United in the meantime.

Blatter, speaking on the eve of the draw for the preliminary rounds of the 2006 World Cup, displayed a far harder stance towards doping cases than before and insisted that Ferdinand's case should have been handled far quicker.