Rio Ferdinand given three-match ban for 'sket' comment on Twitter

Rio Ferdinand was tonight hit with a severe three-match ban and £25,000 fine for his “sket” comment on Twitter, having declined to attend the Football Association hearing this week.

The former England defender did not attend the hearing on the FA’s misconduct charge, issued on 14 October, a move which went down particularly badly with the three-man commission that heard the case. They also took his previous conduct into account, including the “choc ice” episode with Ashley Cole resulting in what was a surprisingly high tariff.