By Myles Palmer
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IF RIO FERDINAND could play for Manchester United against Birmingham after missing that drug test, why can’t he play for England?
What’s the difference?
FA chief executive Mark Palios has obviously chosen the wrong moment and the wrong issue for his powerplay.
He seems to have been waiting for a chance to take on Man United, and claw back some power from the clubs, but he has been far too heavy-handed.
You may have been asking: Where is David Davies?
FA exec David Davies was the co-author of Hoddle’s infamous World Cup diary, which lost the dressing room and then the match in Stockholm in the September after France 98.
Davies rushed Keegan into the job and somehow survived that debacle.
On Sunday Davies had a discreet meeting with United and saw what was coming and got on a plane to Istanbul and hasn’t been heard from since.
My basic point is this : If Rio could play for United against Birmingham, why can’t he play in Turkey?
It’s a huge own-goal by Palios and that is what the players are furious about. He only started in July and he has already alienated them more than any FA chief in history.
Surprisingly, most of the papers have missed the point.
The tabloids have been too busy writing shock horror headlines that follow on from the rape stories.
Mutiny ! Turmoil ! Arrogant footballers ! Who the hell do you think you are ?
Broadsheet pundits droned on about the days when players were glad to get out of the coal mines.Sir Alf would not have tolerated a mutiny !
Get real, guys.That was another century!
Of course football should be cleaned up and the government are pressing Palios to do that, I’m sure.
Of course drug testing is important. Of course players who miss a test should be punished.
This week the England players,although confused and disappointed, have behaved better than the rabid, punitive, judgemental English press
Of course Rio is culpable.
And so are Man United for not making sure he gave a urine sample at the same time as Giggs and the other two players, but the full facts have not yet emerged.
If the Man City player got a £2,000 fine for missing a drug test, Rio should get the same.
Don’t forget : UEFA have said they would not object to Rio playing against Turkey.
He played for United against Birmingham on October 4th after missing the drug test on September 23.
The FA knew he had missed the test, so why wait to make a fuss till AFTER that game, seven days before Istanbul and one day before the England squad was due to be announced?
This is the point that the papers have all missed. All the papers I’ve read, anyway
It’s been a catalogue of errors.
How could the player, the club, the testers and the FA all get it so wrong?
MEANWHILE, ARSENAL have had a good week.
Sol got a £20,000 fine for improper conduct, fair punishment for his backheel retaliation on Djemba-Djemba.He did not deserve a ban.
Kolo Toure got a new five-year contract, which he fully deserves.
Alex Fynn phoned last night to say that many bookshops now have a little Arsenal corner, which is good for all of us authors.
Having visited many bookshops lately, Alex reckons Virgin are doing a fine job of distributing The Professor, my updated paperback, which was re-published in August.
Had to admit that I have only been in one shop in the last two months.
It was Waterstones next to Tottenham Court Road tube, where I signed eight copies, including a couple of the 2002 edition.
Friday 4pm: the weekend starts here !
And remember : Turkey and England are top 10 football countries.
Both will qualify for 2004.
October 10th 2003.