Ex-Man Utd star Rio Ferdinand defended following three-match ban for tweet

QPR boss Harry Redknapp has stuck up for ex-Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand following the centre-back’s three-match ban for comments made on Twitter.

10:33, Thu, Oct 30, 2014

rio ferdinand Rio Ferdinand has been banned for three games by the FA[GETTY ]

The former England captain was punished for a reply sent to a fan suggesting that QPR needed to buy a new defender, with Ferdinand retorting: “Get ya mum in, plays the field well son! #sket!”

Ferdinand was also fined £25,000 for his tweet, and will have to undergo an education programme relating to conduct.

QPR will be able to appeal the FA’s penalty, but speaking ahead of his side’s weekend clash against Chelsea, Redknapp defended the 35-year-old, claiming that the veteran is one of the most professional he’s ever come across.

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I haven’t spoken to Rio or the chairman yet. No-one knows better how to behave on and off the pitch than Rio
Harry Redknapp

He said: “We can’t comment, I’m not sure what he’s done and what the charge and reasons behind it is, I haven’t seen it and I don’t know.

“I haven’t spoken to Rio or the chairman yet. No-one knows better how to behave on and off the pitch than Rio.

“He comes out and trains hard. He’s the first one on the training pitch, a great professional, and in the dressing room he gets behind the team.”