FOOTBALL Association chiefs were today quizzed by MPs over why Rio Ferdinand is still being paid a "massive salary" by Manchester United despite being suspended for eight months for missing a drugs test.
The issue was raised during a Parliamentary inquiry into drugs in sport, where it was also revealed that drug testers are to change the way they handle visits to football clubs.
Frank Doran, Labour MP for Aberdeen, said: "There doesn't seem to be any responsibility on the club to deliver the player for testing.
"In the aftermath of the case the player has breached FA rules by not attending the drugs test, has been punished and has put himself in a position where he is not able to fulfil his contract and yet continues to be paid his usual wages throughout his suspension.
"It doesn't send out the right messages about the consequences for someone who has breached the rules. I realise it has had a devastating effect on Rio Ferdinand's career but the fact that he is still being paid his massive salary needs investigating."
Under review
Nic Coward, the FA's director of corporate and legal affairs, would not be drawn on the issue saying: "Each professional footballer is employed on the basis of a collective bargaining agreement drawn up with the agreement of the clubs and the PFA. It would not be right to comment on only one individual case."
Meanwhile, John Scott, UK Sport's acting director of drug-free sport, revealed that the procedures governing visits by anti-doping officials are under review following the Ferdinand affair.
Scott said: "In the last three months discussions about changing the rules have been taking place to make sure we are compliant with the worldwide code on drugs in sport."
Manchester United have already changed their system when testers arrive at Carrington training ground.
The anti-doping officials now stay with those players selected for tests from when they arrive until the sample is given - sometimes a period of several hours.
In the past, testers would arrive at Carrington, lots would be drawn for the random tests and the officials would then be given a side room to sit in until after training when the selected players would be brought to them.
Now, once the players are selected, the testers go into the dressing room to monitor them and then follow them out to the training pitch where they continue to observe those chosen for the tests before they return to provide the urine samples.
Should Rio still be drawing his massive wage? Have your say.
For all the big United stories see tomorrow's M.E.N
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no rio should not be paid otherwise he is not being punished.
It certainly doesn't send out the right messages but at the end of the day the players wages are met by MUFC plc so in my opinion its down to them,besides that it means Rio Ferdinand wont be taking money from the state which he would be entitled to if United were't allowed to pay his wages anyway I think missing 8 months of a career the player loves is sufficent punishment.
Its good to know that MPs have solved crime, NHS waiting lists, the economy etc and have time to dedicate to other important issues like Rio's salary.
If United don't pay Rio, they are in breach of his contract and he would therefore be entitled to leave the club under European labour regulations. Politicians really should read up before making fools of themselves.
Its' Utd. who are the big mugs. They shell out, lose his services while Rio contemplates his next shopping outing.
Rio sould be payed his wages as he still trains every time with the rest of the team his punishment for missing the drugs test was his 8 month ban.He was not even proved posative for drugs.So not only have they recked his season they want to ruin his life style aswell,because he fogot,Any other team would it have been different? 8 month ban loss of wages get real Assh---s.
No, I believe if a player violates the league's drug tests he forfeits his current contract and should sign a new one to allow the team to hold his rights and the leagues base salary- like the NFL.
Glad to see the Iraqi war is over,world poverty has been eliminated and the threat of global warming has ended, now that MP`s have time to question individual actions of clubs?
This is a private matter between the player and club. For all we know, he may be drawing a lower salary or no salary at all during his ban. It is certainly none of the MPs' business.
On this site it is obvious most of you know very little about football, and even less about politics. Rio should not just lose his wages he should have been sacked, he has cost United and their fans big time.
Don't want to reopen the whole, sorry saga again but Rio has already been immensely harshly treated. There is no doubt that, if he could, he would play for Manchester United, so why should he be punished further for the FA's harsh and unfair treatment - he would probably give up half his wages for the chance of playing for his team and country in any case. The supporters of the MP's argument on this thread are bitter, jealous, no-life whiners who love moaning about what other people do and earn. Go away and talk to someone who gives a monkeys - there are more important things in life.
Yes Rio the 14 million pound man, who ca,t even remeber to take a test. The reason for the long ban was because of the attitude of United they should have casigated Rio.
If only I'd been a great but forgetful footballer. Damn some people just get all the luck! But this isn't the NFL and it's not politically debatable. It's a private agreement between club and player. MUFC loses because they get to pay to watch their best defender sit in the stands, Rio loses because he doesn't get to do what he loves and has cost club and country heavily. FA loses because they now look stupid and will miss Rio this summer, the fans lose because no-one can put this thing to rest. Let's move on can we, we've all been punished! (well all apart from Jimbo from Bolton that is, who needs to be)
Its nice to now parliament dont have any more important issues to discuss.
Rio should be paid nothing during the suspension. He has arguably cost the club millions as the treble became a distant dream at least in some part to his unavailability.
It was his sole responsibility to take the test. I'd fire him if I thought he wouldn't be defending against us next season!
Rio's salary is the buisness of Man Utd, and the politicians should keep their noses out of it. It is nothing to do with them!!!!!!!!
Can we finish this story, yeah he's a muppet for forgetting a test but he isn't and never has been accused of taking drugs. Agree with all intelligent comments these people have far more important issues running the country, and this has nothing to do with them.
So RF has a very serious injury and is sidelined for 8 months...therefore according to their way of thinking he is not fulfilling his playing contract and should not be paid, why aren't these politicians held accountable for their actions and just what do they actually do for their salaries????
it's nice to see mp's comenting on the way other people do their business and lead their lives.it's also nice to see how thick some[if not all]of them must be i remember not so long ago all the scandeless stories about their private lives [going to strange parks late at night etc ,or how about the mp whose son was caught with class A's .he did not even go to court]so in the end parliment should clean the ***t from under it's own doorstep and leave sports clubs and athletes etc to deal with these issues.
To all the "he should taken out and shot" brigade; Im 100% sure that if the PLC thought they could get away with not paying Rio they would but as things stand If United don't pay Rio for at least 2 weeks for any reason that doesnt constitute a breach of contract Rio is entitled to cancel his contract and walk away. Thats the law as set out by the European Commissions labour relation regulations(or something to that effect!) So to the idiotic MP's sticking there noses in please do some research before making an issue out of something that clearly isnt.
It,s a fair point, United need to be put under close scrutiny.They have done some very dubious transfer deals.Rio should have been unemployed. The world has gone crazy, when footballers who can hardly string two words together, or two passes.Can be Multi millionaires.I think it is time for the British Goverment to take a stand and cap all these overpaid morons a level of income more comparable to the real world. Perhaps the same salary as a gardener, or similar.
No.