Ferguson questions Ferdinand's England future

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is hinting Rio Ferdinand may turn his back on England because of the eight-month ban the defender received for missing a drugs test.

Ferdinand has 14 days from tomorrow in which to lodge an appeal, and Ferguson has promised to back his player all the way to the civil courts if necessary.

Ferguson claims the Football Association “condemned” Ferdinand by leaving him out of the England team to face Turkey in a Euro 2004 qualifier.

But he has also put a question mark over Ferdinand’s will to return to international action.

“Whether he ever plays for his country again, or whether he wants to play for them, is another matter,” said Ferguson.