ENGLAND players are STILL in a mutinous mood over the FA's handling of the Rio Ferdinand affair.
That is the claim of Gary Neville, one of the key figures when the FA's handling of the affair brought the country's top players to the brink of a strike in support of their team-mate.
And Neville says that the fury felt in the Manchester United dressing room over the issue has helped to fuel the Reds' terrific form of late.
The eight-month ban handed out to Ferdinand for missing his drugs test has kept the players' anger with the FA simmering. They threatened industrial action just days before England's crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey in October - and the affair just will not go away.
Some players have since distanced themselves from the hard-line stance taken by senior England players, while some have said that talk of a strike has been exaggerated.
But Neville remains firm in his conviction, and says that the players came "pretty close" to walking out in support of Ferdinand.
"We were brassed off - and we still are," said Neville. "It was frustrating for us. We didn't like what happened to Rio, and we still don't like what's happening to him.
"We stood for what we felt was right and everyone was behind it. We played the game in the end and got the result, and it is by the by now.
United front
"But it was probably the best thing to happen. It made the point and showed that maybe we have a little bit of something about us.
"There were moments when we thought we would go through with it and not play the match. You would have to ask each individual, but there were certainly those thoughts in my head, and in the heads of those I was close to.
"We felt it was just such an injustice and that it could be one of us next time and it can't be right. You have to stand up for your teammate."
That feeling of injustice has been heightened by the sentence passed on Ferdinand less than a fortnight ago - and that could bode further trouble for the FA and Eriksson.
Neville says there was disbelief among his England and United colleagues when the verdict on Ferdinand came through, but whereas the effect on England could prove divisive, it has only strengthened the will to succeed at Old Trafford.
At the root of the anger is the belief that Ferdinand was treated more harshly than Manchester City's Christian Negouai, fined £2,000 for a similar offence just a few months earlier. He even picked up a heavier penalty than Jaap Stam and Edgar Davids, who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and received five-month bans.
Gasps
Neville added: "We are all close anyway but when we heard that sentence being read out by that bloke, the gasps came from everyone, no matter what your position was on Rio's situation.
"People couldn't believe what had just come from his lips. I couldn't believe it - it almost sickened me, to be honest.
"In life, whenever you do something wrong, whether it be at school or in work, you just ask to be treated the same as the next guy and that has just not happened to Rio Ferdinand.
"Why? I don't know. I just think he was compromised pretty early on when he was left out of the England team. I don't think it was ever going to be fair from thereon in. But that kind of thing makes us stronger, and always has done. We feel for Rio being in this position because we don't believe, while he has made a mistake, that he should be missing football matches. People make mistakes - we are not robots."
Now United and Ferdinand are still waiting for a written report from the FA before deciding whether to appeal - although it seems inevitable.
Will Rio's ban spur United on to defend their title? Have your say.
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Keep going lads. Stand up for what is right. This is what makes you a team; not all the stiff upper lip and kow-towing. The world has changed. The weak don't win and are totally disregarded today. Play fair; play hard and make your point.
It is totally unjust to compare failure to take the test with failure to pass the test. Rio's sentence, compared to those given to proven drug takers, demonstrates this. This is a plain injustice and soccer must lead the way in remedying the problem. It is unjust in soccer, athletics, rowing and any other sport, so disregard what the 'toe-the-line' past-heroes say. The fact that they have been brown tongued into positions of power on the backs of previous world class performances does not make them right. Tell them where to get off lads...then stuff the foreign opposition.
Live with the decision Rio was wrong end of story.As for striking against England if that occurs the players concerned should be banned from ever appearing for England again.Enough said.
there had to be a turning point at which the FA implemented rules in line with the rest of professional sport, and Rio just happened to be that turning point. Of course, he is an extremely high-profile player, so what happens to him will always get noticed.. surely that is why it was done, and it has had it's desired effect. Good on the FA.
No Alan, there has not been enough said, and no Tim, there did not have to be a turning point. There are simple principles at stake here that have been demonstrated clearly by the FA and FIFA. The principles in question are whether or not it is more serious to delay a test or to fail a test dismally and whether soccer is governed by a group of calm and rational people or by a group of paranoiac and irrational has-been 'band wagon riders' including some from other sports.
Eight months for delaying a test for 36 hours but five months for failing .
The England players are right and honourable to stand and express their opinions. They are, it seems, governed by at least two tiers of wimpish bullyboy managers, both of which seem to be out to make a name for themselves. It is the players, clubs and fans that matter in this sport but they are the ones being harassed and dictated to by people who seem to be in power for no other reason than they 'knew someone' and were living on past reputations or paper qualifications.
There is, possibly, also a third principle at stake: one that again seems to be for the British to stand up to in the end. In the late 1930s, we could have stood back and done nothing, just as some now advocate. At the end of the day we did not, and nor should the England players, because football is about everyone's dreams, not the psychotic dogma of one or two petty dictators kept in power by fear and ruling by irrational whim.
Here we go, Gary Neville whingeing again. Rio Ferdinand failed to take a drug test .......end of story. Let him take his punishment on the chin and let Man Utd and Gary Neville and the rest stop interfering. The rest of the guys who were to be tested on the day duly gave specimens as required, Rio did not and left the training ground, he was wrong to do so and wrong to try and defend his actions with weak excuses. Yes, he is a high profile player and as such should stand up and show the youngsters that he can take punishment like a man instead of trying to hide behind the might of Man Utd and their legal team.
i wonder if neville would have gone on so much if rio was an arsenal or liverpool player rather than one of his red pals?hmmmmmmmmmmm
Wilfs Lad of Manchester: well reasoned and need I say more ? I totally agree with your view.