Ferdinand may launch second appeal

Ferdinand risks missing the Carling Cup final (GETTY IMAGES)

Rio Ferdinand is considering whether to appeal against his four-match suspension for attacking Hull City's Craig Fagan at Old Trafford last weekend.

Ferdinand received the punishment yesterday after he failed in his bid to overturn a violent conduct charge.

An addition game was added to the automatic three-game suspension for what an FA disciplinary panel deemed to be a "frivolous" appeal.

Sir Alex Ferguson is not entirely happy with the situation and club officials will now analyse the disciplinary judgement before deciding whether to lodge an appeal.

While it would have no effect on the first three games, at Arsenal on Sunday and then the following Premier League matches against Portsmouth and Aston Villa, Manchester United could succeed in overturning the fourth match, at Everton on February 20.

"We have to decide whether to appeal because there are conflicting ways in which 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 tomorrow, Rio is banned."