FA give reason to Rio ban

London - Former England captain Rio Ferdinand "should have known better" than to become involved in a Twitter row, the Football Association said Wednesday as it explained why it had controversially banned the QPR defender for three matches.

Last month the FA also fined Ferdinand £25 000 for referring to the mother of another Twitter user as a 'sket', a derogatory slang term for a promiscuous woman.

"With nearly six million followers Ferdinand is clearly an experienced Twitter user and he should know better than to respond in the way that he did," said a statement issued on behalf of the FA's independent regulatory commission.

"It is said on his behalf that he is one of the most high profile sportsmen on Twitter and he is, without doubt, a role model for many young people, no doubt throughout the world. His responsibility is therefore that much greater than many others.

"Unfortunately there is no formal or direct admission and there is certainly no sign of remorse."

QPR manager Harry Redknapp, who first worked with the young Ferdinand at West Ham, previously endorsed the former England centre-back by saying he was a "top-class person".

Ferdinand, 35, also received backing from team-mate Joey Barton, who said the ban and fine were over the top.

"The punishment (in the Ferdinand case) isn't fitting of the crime in my opinion," Barton said on Twitter.

"3 games is violent conduct. (John) Terry only got 4 games for racial abuse?

"3 games and 25k for a tweet? Come on."