LONDON (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter has questioned the validity of Manchester United's results since discovering Rio Ferdinand was playing on despite being charged for missing a drugs test.
"He cannot play until the case is settled. The case is not settled," Blatter said on Saturday.
"How can you now settle this case when he has played and... will (perhaps) be declared guilty by a commission or any tribunal in sports, in football?" Blatter told Sky Sports News in an interview in Dubai.
"And what do you do with the results after that?" Blatter asked.
"I will write a very strong letter to the FA (English Football Association) to ask for some explanations because otherwise we will lose our credibility, especially in (the case of) doping."
Ferdinand was charged by the FA last month with "failure or refusal" to take a drugs test after missing one at United's training ground in September.
The 24-year-old England defender has denied a misconduct charge and asked for a hearing, due next month.
Ferdinand was dropped by England over the missed drugs test before their October 11 Euro 2004 decider in Turkey but he has since played for United eight times in domestic and European competition, five times after he was charged on October 29.
He is in the United squad for their top-of-the-table match away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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It's funny reading about his "Strong letter" to the FA....makes you wonder how many 'Strong Letters' he's had arrive on his desk from Fleet Street..
it is not rio's fault that the F.A are taking so long to make a decsion. If rio wasnt allowed to play like blatter wants then surely rio would have already served his ban. he cant expect united to lose rio for 2-3 months while the F.A fanny about then another 3 months for his actual ban
"He cannot play until the case is settled. The case is not settled," Blatter said on Saturday.
"How can you now settle this case when he has played and... will (perhaps) be declared guilty by a commission or any tribunal in sports, in football?" Blatter told Sky Sports News in an interview in Dubai.
"And what do you do with the results after that?" Blatter asked.
"I will write a very strong letter to the FA (English Football Association) to ask for some explanations because otherwise we will lose our credibility, especially in (the case of) doping."
Ferdinand was charged by the FA last month with "failure or refusal" to take a drugs test after missing one at United's training ground in September.
The 24-year-old England defender has denied a misconduct charge and asked for a hearing, due next month.
Ferdinand was dropped by England over the missed drugs test before their October 11 Euro 2004 decider in Turkey but he has since played for United eight times in domestic and European competition, five times after he was charged on October 29.
He is in the United squad for their top-of-the-table match away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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It's funny reading about his "Strong letter" to the FA....makes you wonder how many 'Strong Letters' he's had arrive on his desk from Fleet Street..
it is not rio's fault that the F.A are taking so long to make a decsion. If rio wasnt allowed to play like blatter wants then surely rio would have already served his ban. he cant expect united to lose rio for 2-3 months while the F.A fanny about then another 3 months for his actual ban
