By JIMMY GREAVES
SEPP BLATTER’S power over football has been demonstrated once again.
I am convinced that without his astonishing remarks over the Rio Ferdinand case, the extremely harsh eight-month ban would not have been dished out.
If you recall, FIFA supremo Blatter insisted Ferdinand should have been banned from football from the day he missed the drugs test at Carrington.
He also claimed United should have been docked all the points they won with Ferdinand in the team since then.
Blatter’s influence has obviously put huge pressure on the FA — and yesterday they wilted.
One of England’s great players — a man who could grow up to be one of the greatest — has been hung out to dry as an example to all.
I accept the fault for missing the drugs test lies with Ferdinand.
But what I cannot accept is the clearly haphazard way in which the testers went about their business.
In all other sports, if somebody is to be tested for drugs they are followed from the pitch and stuck closely to until the sample is given.
The testers allowed Ferdinand, 25, to get changed, probably have something to eat, talk with his mates and, I believe, probably forget all about it.
When he phoned two hours later to admit his mistake, why on earth did they not allow him to return to the training ground and take the test?
Now one suggestion this week was that in the intervening time, he could have used a syringe to take out his urine then squirt someone else’s back in. Quite frankly that’s taking the p***.
Presumably, he was doing this while paying for his goods in Harvey Nichols where he was when he realised he had missed his big appointment.
Come off it! Ferdinand has been made an example of.
But let us remember Ferdinand has not taken drugs, he has never fallen foul of a drugs test — he has been absent-minded.
For that he has been banned for eight months. That is a huge amount of time in football.
It has not only denied Manchester United their best defender but England of a key man for Euro 2004.
Yes, I know the rules, I know what some of you are thinking.
But let us not forget Christian Negouai down the road at Manchester City’s training ground committed the same offence and was only fined.
Is it because it is Manchester United?Have the FA decided to get one over a club and a manager who have ruled football for 10 years with an iron fist?
Either way, I cannot agree with the severity of the punishment. Three months would probably have been right as a warning to all.
Then the FA could have tightened up their rules and their procedures so this could not happen again.
It is amazing to think the destination of the title has, for the second season running, been decided at The Reebok Stadium.
Last season at Bolton’s ground, Arsenal blew a two-goal lead and headed south with just a point.
It was the day their season died and a subsequent home defeat to Leeds handed Manchester United a title which had been Arsenal’s to lose.
This season, the venue for all the drama was the same — but big Sam’s team had nothing to do with it.
Nor was a ball kicked in anger, although I’d suggest that something else was when the verdict came in.
I believe the banning of Ferdinand will ultimately cost United the title and any hope they had of winning the European Cup.
His partnership at the centre of the United defence with Mikael Silvestre is the best they have had since the days of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister.
The pair are not merely big stoppers but athletes and footballers.
They have the pace to keep up with the quickest strikers but also the ability to play the ball out from the back with calm precision.
This season of the 18 games they have played together, United have enjoyed 10 clean sheets.
There have been no question marks over United in an attacking sense in recent years but their defending has given some cause for concern.
Now they have it right at both ends.
United can and will call on the fit-again Wes Brown but I doubt after his third serious injury that he can fill the gaping hole that has been left by Ferdinand’s ban.
There is no doubt a couple of men in London yesterday — and I mean at Highbury and Stamford Bridge rather than Soho Square — were rubbing their hands with glee.
I cannot help but think that the whole thing could so easily have been avoided had the drug testers done their job efficiently.
They haven’t and Ferdinand has had to pay the consequences.
But don’t believe that this war is over. United will hit back with all their might with an appeal I am sure.
JIMMY GREAVES was talking to NEIL CUSTIS
The Sun.
i just predicting them to finish as group winners, ferdinand provides the stability and international experience that terry does not possess, hope the FA do consider those facts