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So Rio's appeal against the FA's 8 month ban has been turned down and he will not be able to play again until September.

As a Chelsea fan I am delighted, as no doubt will be John Terry. As an England fan I am angered that Man Utd's pissing about has meant him missing Euro 2004.

Ferdinand was a twat for missing the drugs test. Man Utd are even bigger twats for firstly shepherding the drugs testers into what amounted to no more than a cupboard rather than allowing them immediate contact with the players randomly chosen for a test, secondly for allowing Ferdinand to leave the training ground without double-checking he'd been tested, and thirdly (and most importantly) for messing around for so many months, waiting until the last minute to lodge appeals, etc.

I am enjoying the result because it shows that despite being a famous name you cannot escape personal responsibility !!!

Goes to show that overpaid footballers can't cock a snook at the authorities with 'Im bigger than a drugs test'
Over-rated IMO and John Terry would have got the nod over Rio when final 11 were chosen

Has he actually accepted he did something wrong yet?

A footballer accepting blame? Don't be daft!

Speaking of which, I see Berti Wagen is still going to pick the unfortunately named Paul Dickov for Scotland.

I notice there have been the usual quotes in the press saying that he's not been proved guilty of taking drugs, so why the 8 month ban, but that completely misses the point - he's been fined and banned for missing the test!!

And that is the whole point, a ban for missing the test has to be at least equal or greater than a ban for failing the test, otherwise it would be advantageous to take drugs, and avoid a test if asked, and receive a shorter ban.

Simple to most of us, I just wish Merchandise United could grasp it.

Well said Peter, maybe if Merchandise United were forced to reconsider his ?70,000 pw wages it might eventually sink in but I doubt it.
8 month ban......still getting paid! punishment? it's a joke........