Rio Ferdinand has labelled the FA ‘ludicrous’ after being handed a three match ban for using the slang ‘sket’ on twitter.
The QPR defender tweeted on Firday: ‘Is humour even allowed….I’m baffled! Ludicrous……& I don’t mean the rapper’ before replying ‘preach’ to a user who said : ‘ I can see that the FA have operated a double standard here. They have not prosecuted Mackay & Moody and Referee Elray for using …..’
Former Cardiff duo Malkay Mackay and Iain Moody are not expected to face any FA charges over their exchange of sexist, racist and homophobic texts and emails. While referee David Elleray was ordered to take an equality and diversity training course after making racist comments to another official.
Ferdinand is furious at the FA and may withdraw his support from any future FA initiatives.
After sending his tweet on Friday, his teammate Joey Barton was quick to back him up on twitter.
The midfielder wrote: ‘Can I say ‘wet wipe’ without getting a 83 game ban or a £14,000,000 fine?
‘Wonder what words I can use? #nonoffensiveretorts
‘Surely a person has the right to be offensive? Especially if someone offends you? Shambolic that @rioferdy5 misses 3 games and loses £25k.
‘I understand the need to reprimand him. He’s a human being who has reacted to some unfair criticism.
‘But the punishment isn’t fitting of the crime in my opinion. 3 games is violent conduct. Terry only got 4 games for racial abuse?
‘3 games and £25k for a tweet? Come on.’
The pair then began their own conversation on the social media site, with Barton describing the punishment given to Ferdinand as ‘an absolute disgrace’.
Ferdinand began by writing to Barton: ‘@Joey7Barton its a Tepid tweet….3games im not even going to hashtag it!!’
The former Manchester City man replied: ‘@rioferdy5 I have said way worse I am sure. Don’t understand how you can be banned from football. It’s nothing to do with it.
‘It’s an absolute disgrace. They have set a dangerous precedent now. Looking forward to seeing them police this? #muppets’
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