LONDON (AFP) - English football chiefs were reported to have decided to leave Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand out of the friendly international with Denmark at Old Trafford on November 16. He is allowed to play for Manchester United while the Football Association decides what action to take for him failing to take a routine drug test. But the FA believes it would send out a confused message if the 30-million pound defender was recalled after being left out of the Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey. There is no chance of him getting a hearing into a drugs charge before the match against the Danes, it was reported on Friday. And any appeal could run into the new year. The FA has said it is still studying documents, including Ferdinand's mobile phone records, to decide whether there was enough evidence to charge him with 'wilful' or deliberate failure to attend the drugs test on September 23. The charge would carry a certain ban. "In the interests of all parties concerned and football in general, the FA will proceed through all of the facts with due diligence before making any decision as to what further steps within the process may be," the FA said. "Therefore, we will not be setting any deadlines as to when The FA will make any announcement concerning their decision on reviewing the evidence." It is now apparent his mobile phone was switched on during the afternoon of September 23 and raises questions as to why he did not respond sooner to messages from United telling him he had missed the test. Ferdinand will hope the records support his claims that he did contact the FA once he realised he had forgotten the appointment. According to reports, Ferdinand finally spoke to United's club doctor Mike Stone more than an hour and a half after leaving the training ground and immediately rang the FA.
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