Crunch for Rio
Rio Ferdinand should know in the next 48 hours what charge he will face, if any, from the FA for failing to take a drugs test. The Manchester United defender is facing the possibility of a lengthy ban and fine. He has already been interviewed by the FA´s compliance unit. And it is understood that other officials and individuals relevant to the case have been called upon to give statements. The player´s mobile phone records are also being examined. He was selected at random by UK Sport anti-doping officers to take a drugs test at United´s Carrington training ground on September 23. But he left the scene, later claiming he had forgotten because he was moving house. Ferdinand subsequently passed a test 36 hours later. If it is found that he is guilty of wilful failure to take the test at the original time he could receive a two-year ban.
Philip Osborn, Daily Star
Fergie´s men just not at the races
Man Utd 1 Fulham 3
Ryan Giggs admitted that United´s lethargic superstars has paid the penalty for switching off after the exertions of their battles with Leeds and Rangers. Giggs, as brutally honest as rested club skipper Roy Keane, said: " Subconsciously, when the big games come along that´s when we raise our game. But it might be too late if we carry on producing performances like that. We were poor and sloppy, not just in one department but everywhere. We can´t use the mid-week game with Rangers as an excuse. The lads are used to the demands of playing Champions League football on a Wednesday and the Premiership on a Saturday by now. And we had a few lads coming in to freshen it up as well. The good thing is that we have a Carling Cup tie at Leeds on Tuesday to get this out of our system and get back to winning ways before we are back at Old Trafford for Portsmouth on Saturday. We can´t afford to fall nine or 10 points by the turn of the year, like we did last season."
Richard Tanner, Daily Express
And finally the headline you thought you´d never see...
Wenger sees penalty ´dive´ ( by the opposition)
Arsene Wenger stunned the football world last night when he SAW Matt Holland earn a penalty for Charlton, which he then suggested had been won with a dive. The Arsenal manager, famous for selective blindness, hinted strongly that the usually-honest Charlton captain had cheated to give his side the advantage in a pulsating 1-1 Premiership draw. Wenger said: " If I was the manager of Charlton I would be very happy. I saw it and it was nice. There was no water underneath, but it was nice. There was no contact and, unless the rules of football change, it should not be a penalty."
Matt Lawton, Daily Mail