Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand may fight increased ban

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is considering whether to appeal against the increase to his ban for violent conduct.

The 31-year-old lost his original appeal against a three-match suspension for an altercation with Craig Fagan during Saturday's 4-0 win over Hull.

The Football Association labelled the appeal "frivolous" and increased his ban to four games.

United have until Monday to contest the additional one-game suspension.

The FA told BBC Sport that Manchester United can appeal against the increase but have yet to hear from the reigning Premier League champions.

United were unavailable to confirm to BBC Sport what their next move would be, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed his displeasure with the disciplinary processes being used by the game's governing body.

"We have to decide whether to appeal because there are conflicting ways in how these decisions are being viewed," he said.

"I watched the game between Leyton Orient and Charlton on Monday and there was an elbow on the Charlton player three times as he was running with the ball.

"But nothing has happened with that. There is a lot of confusion there, although we accept that for (Saturday), Rio is banned."

Ferdinand only returned to action at Old Trafford at the weekend for the first time in three months after recovering from a calf injury.

But after appearing to swing an arm at Hull striker Fagan, the England centre-half picked up a three-match ban, which was then extended to four after the Football Association rejected the defender's appeal as "frivolous".

Because of the appeal, Ferdinand, who has made only 10 appearances for his club so far this season, was able to play in Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Manchester City, but he faces a further suspension if he fails to overturn the ban on the fourth game.

While he is definitely banned for the next three games, at Arsenal on Sunday and then the following Premier League matches against Portsmouth and Aston Villa, the Red Devils could succeed in having their centre-half available at Everton on 20 February.

If Ferdinand received a five-match suspension on the back of another appeal, he would be ruled out of the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa on 28 February at Wembley.

Anelka schooled in art of attack

Nicolas Anelka hopes his willingness to learn from Carlo Ancelotti is helping him to become one of the most feared strikers in Europe.

Anelka: Willing to learn

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The Chelsea and France international has scored both of the Blues' match-winning goals in the Champions League this season.

He grabbed the winner in the home victory over FC Porto and followed that up with a sublime strike against Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus.

Anelka has scored five goals so far this season and his form in Europe has enabled Chelsea to overcome the absence of suspended Ivory Coast international striker Didier Drogba.

Drogba was banned for three games by UEFA following his foul-mouthed rant at the referee following their controversial semi-final defeat to eventual winners Barcelona last season.

But Anelka's goals have put Chelsea on top of Group D and the Frenchman will be looking to continue his run of form when the Blues face Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge next week.

Anelka, once known as the 'incredible sulk' during his time at Arsenal says he has learned much from his previous strike partners and they include Kanu and the legendary Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.

"You know when you play with big players like him or Kanu that you will learn - I have learned from a lot of people that I've played with and tried to take a little bit from all of them," confessed Anelka.

Anelka has found no problem adjusting to Carlo Ancelotti's 'diamond' and 'Christmas tree' formations.

The Italian coach has introduced the systems since taking over from interim coach Guus Hiddink and the players have responded quickly.

"Since we have started playing the systems, I've scored more goals and I've been playing well," added Anelka.

"I'm not sure if too many other players like playing in this position but I enjoy it a lot.

"I think of it as being like a striker but also in the middle of the midfield and attack.

"I am a striker but not at the top of the team and I'm still in the centre of the pitch - a bit like the position Dennis Bergkamp used to play.

"He used to play for Arsenal like that when I was there, not like a striker, but not a number 10 or a midfield player either.

"You play between the number 10 position and the centre-forward position, that's nine-and-a-half.

"In the position I play you need to know before you get the ball where your team-mates are and try to be clever because in modern football doing something clever is advantageous.

"You have to be very clever now. It is not enough just to be a very good footballer or very athletic, because if you do not have the intelligence to make the right decisions on the pitch, I don't think you will make it at the highest level."

Champions League Top Goalscorer 09/10: Anelka, N. 10/1

Drogba offers McCarthy support

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has backed Benni McCarthy's chances of winning a South Africa recall ahead of next summer's World Cup finals.

McCarthy: Out of international reckoning

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The Blackburn striker has struggled to regain his Bafana Bafana place after being dropped for last summer's Confederations Cup after being injured only to play for Rovers soon after.

McCarthy last played for South Africa in a friendly against Ghana in 2008 although he could be given a fresh start following the sacking of Brazilian head coach Joel Santana.

The 31-year-old is also out-of-favour with Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce having made just one Premier League start this season and featuring twice off the bench.

Chelsea ace Drogba is a close friend of McCarthy and he insists the striker deserves to feature in next year's showpiece event because he is a good player.

"South Africa have to include their best players and Benny McCarthy is one of them," he told skysports.com.

"I have to defend my good friend. Not because he is my friend, but because he is a very good player. They need him."

Meanwhile, Drogba is backing Ivory Coast's credentials and insists they have matured after making their finals debut in Germany in 2006.

"African teams can do well in the World Cup," he continued. "Ghana and Ivory Coast are very strong. Our 2006 experience will help us.

"Teams need to worry about us. We're more mature now and we will go there with our confidence and qualities to fight for our nations and our continent."

M.I. Spanking New CD: "Talk About It"

M.I. releases spanking new CD Talk about it! Talk about it was released on the 10th of December, selling out 30 thousand CDs in 30 minutes... M.I. is an artist we believe will take the African and International Hip Hop World by storm!

One of the most widely anticipated albums is out on the streets of Lagos City, Nigeria. The birth of a fresh style, fresh lyrics and budding raw talent, M.I. is set to mark his spot in the fast growing Nigerian Entertainment Industry.

M.I’s brand new album “TALK ABOUT IT” is surely giving everyone something to talk about as it sold out today, December 10, 2008. 30,000 copies were released this morning and all copies were sold in just 30 minutes.

“Talk About It” is an overqualified album…period. The Album boasts of 18 tracks and hot collaborations with people like Pype, Djinee, Y-Q, Blaise and more…this CD is bound to make you ask “ooooooooooo who do this beat?”

Hip Hop Head or not, this CD which is ‘Tag-Team’

produced by M.I. and his brother Jesse Jags (Rytchus Era Productions) is a MUST HAVE CD.

With tracks to make you move, lyrics to make you think, and beats to make you say “ooo….” M.I. is the new face of real HIP HOP in Nigeria.

The birth of “Talk About It,” will be the start of something major in the Hip Hop industry in Africa. M.I. is Hip Hop and Hip Hop is M.I.

His flows are consistent, his lyrics are intelligent, his productions skills are perfect and his style is witty.

Get your copy of Talk About It now!!!!!

For M.I’s international fans, TALK ABOUT IT will be made available on all digital musical outlets early 2009.

For his fans in Nigeria, more copies of his CD will be released…we suggest you literarily run to the streets as we anticipate that another 30,000 copies will be sold out in 30 minutes and selling 17 CDs per second, is no joke!

Expect real Hip Hop in its most saturated form. M.I. is Hip Hop.

M.I s profile can be read here:
http://chocolatecitymusic.com/artists.htm

Listen to M.I. here:
http://www.mytruspot.com/members/4714/

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