The dispute involving Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and defender Rio Ferdinand has "been resolved", according to The BBC, in spite of Ferguson's warning in a post match interview that the defender "would be dealt with". Ferdinand's decision not to wear an anti-racism "Kick it Out" shirt during his side's warm up ahead of their 4-2 win over Stoke last weekend threatened to cause a rift in the Old Trafford dressing room after Ferguson labeled the defenders decision as "embarrassing". It was believed Ferdinand would be hit by a club fine or even dropped from the squad - and whilst the Scot admitted Ferdinand will be absent from United's home Champions League tie against Braga tomorrow, he claimed it was because he is being rested, stressing that there is "no issue" between the pair.
"There was a communication problem but it has been resolved. My advice is to him is that I always feel a union is stronger than an individual. It's important he airs his grievances to the right people, to the PFA or the FA. "As a manager you lay down policy and you don't want that ignored and that's where my anger came from on Saturday. There are no lingering problems and we move on."
Ferdinand wasn't the only player who chose not to wear the anti-racism campaign shirt at the weekend, with up to 30 other Premier League stars, including Reading's Jason Roberts, also refusing to support the cause over their perceived beliefs that the FA and other governing bodies in the sport haven't made a big enough stand on Racism. It is in light of the shameful scenes in Serbia last week during an Under-21 Euro 2013 Qualifier, which saw Tottenham defender Danny Rose controversially sent off after the full time whistle amid claims of monkey chants directed at him and other team mates throughout the game. Ferdinand's protests came about following the punishment handed out to John Terry after he was found guilty by the Football Association and banned for four matches for racially abusing his brother, Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, in a Premier League match at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011.