By Andrew Warshaw
October 30 – English football authorities have split public opinion by clamping down hard on former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and one of the country’s top referees, Mark Clattenburg, for two unrelated misdemeanours.
Ferdinand, now with Queens Park Rangers, has been suspended for three matches and fined £25,000 for comments he made on Twitter.
The former England captain, directing a jibe at a follower who had criticised him last month, replied using the word ‘sket’, Caribbean slang for a promiscuous girl or woman.
In a statement the FA said: “Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand has been suspended for three matches commencing with immediate effect, subject to any appeal, after an FA misconduct charge against him was found proven. It was alleged a comment Ferdinand posted on his twitter account was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper. It was further alleged that this breach was aggravated pursuant to FA rule E3(2) as the comment included a reference to gender.
“Following an independent regulatory commission hearing on Wednesday 29 October, Ferdinand was also fined £25,000, severely warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an education programme, arranged by the FA within four months.”
Ferdinand, who made 81 appearances for England, is the highest-profile English-based player to be banned for sending a Twitter message. Ironically, he is a member of FA chairman Greg Dyke’s commission looking at how to improve English football. As part of his punishment, even though he is one of the most experienced players in the country, he has been ordered to attend an education programme – at the age of 35.
It not the first time he has got himself into hot water on social media but the severity of the punishment – more than for several dangerous challenges by players on the pitch – has taken many observers by surprise. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, for instance, escaped FA disciplinary action after a series of sexist emails were made public earlier this year.
The FA have meanwhile suspended Mark Clattenburg from refereeing any Premier League games this coming weekend for breaking protocol though some would argue his offense was relatively harmless.
Clattenburg is viewed as one of the best officials in the country but has been involved in a string of controversies in recent months. In the latest incident, he made his way to and from last weekend’s game at West Bromwich by himself so he could leave quickly after the match in time to attend an Ed Sheeran concert.
FA rules state that referees must travel with their assistants to and from games for security and integrity purposes.
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