Fergie takes a swipe at FA over Ferdinand's 45,000 fine for Cole 'choc-ice' tweet

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UPDATED:

22:52 GMT, 17 August 2012

WHY RIO WAS FINED…

Click here to read the FA's commission's report on Manchester United defender Ferdinand

Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested Rio
Ferdinand's standing in the game and the fact that he plays for
Manchester United contributed to the FA finding him guilty of making
improper comments about Ashley Cole on Twitter.

Ferdinand was fined 45,000 for his response on the social networking site to someone calling Ashley Cole a 'choc ice'.

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Waiting game: Rio Ferdinand (left) is set to discover if he will be punished by the FA

The United defender chose not to
appeal against the verdict but his manager said: 'I think it was almost
certain. The only thing that surprises me is players have tweeted for
years and it's not been challenged by the FA.

'Rio's status in the game has caused this and who he plays for could be another issue.'

Cole, who has played alongside
Ferdinand for England, appeared as a witness for John Terry when the
Chelsea defender appeared in court in July charged with making racist
comments to the United man's younger brother Anton.

Terry was cleared but Rio Ferdinand
then appeared to endorse a tweet describing Cole as a 'choc ice',
perceived to mean black on the outside and white inside. Ferdinand
tweeted: 'I hear you fella! Choc ice is classic hahahahahaha!!'

It emerged in the FA's findings on Friday that Kick Racism Out of Football chairman Lord Herman Ouseley
testified that 'choc ice' is an offensive term. It is also understood
that two of the three panel members were from ethnic minorities.

Ouseley is also a member of the charity the Manchester United Foundation.

Ferguson warned his players they must be more careful on Twitter.

Evidence: Ashley Cole (right) was called to testify at John Terry's trial

VIDEO: Sir Alex Ferguson expresses his views on Twitter following Rio's fine…

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