Euro 2004 threat over boycott plans
The Football Association has refused to back down over its decision to suspend defender Rio Ferdinand for the Euro 2004 qualifier in Istanbul.
The Manchester United star failed to attend a routine drugs test, but insists he simply forgot, as he was preoccupied with moving house, and had not taken drugs. He provided a sample 36 hours later.
The FA decided that Ferdinand would not be available for selection by England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, causing England players to threaten to boycott the match if he was not reinstated.
However, the FA is refusing to back down and has warned players that England will be thrown out of Euro 2004 if they do not play against Turkey on Saturday.
FA director of communications Paul Barber said on Wednesday that the dispute with the players has not yet been resolved and the team would meet again later to decide what action to take.
“The players want Rio back in the squad but the FA is not prepared to do that,” said Barber.
“The players are considering a number of options, and one of those options is not to travel to Turkey.
“If we do not compete on Saturday according to the regulations as I understand them, we will be disqualified from the tournament.”
