Ferdinand handed four-match ban

The 31-year-old made his long-awaited return from injury against the Tigers last weekend following a three-month absence.

Ferdinand helped the Red Devils keep a clean sheet in the 4-0 victory that took Sir Alex Ferguson's side to the top of the Premier League table.

Ferdinand denied the charge, enabling him to participate in United's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

But he has since been found guilty of violent conduct by the Football Association, and has been hit with an automatic three-match suspension, plus an additional one-game ban for a "frivolous" appeal.

"The Independent Commission felt that the player's claim against the charge was frivolous and on that basis have awarded an additional one-match ban upon the statutory three-match ban awarded for violent conduct," the FA said in a statement.

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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.