Blatter keeps an eye on Ferdinand affair

England will discover this evening who they will have to beat to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals – but Sven-Goran Eriksson’s attention may be diverted by FIFA’s promise to review Rio Ferdinand’s punishment for failing to attend a drugs test.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has made the Ferdinand case something of a personal crusade and made it clear he will be watching the outcome of the December 19 disciplinary hearing closely.