United pay for Rio ban gamble

ALEX FERGUSON believes Manchester United have been the victims of double standards after Rio Ferdinand lost his appeal against a charge of violent conduct and had a game added to his ban.

Ferdinand will miss league matches against Arsenal, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Everton after the FA decided he had deliberately struck Craig Fagan in United’s 4-0 win against Hull City last Saturday.

An independent regulatory commission ruled that it had been “frivolous” for the central defender to appeal and extended his ban from three to four games. Ferdinand will be unable to play for United until the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa on 28 February.