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| QPR’s Harry Redknapp defends banned Rio Ferdinand as a ‘top-class person’ | QPR’s Harry Redknapp defends banned Rio Ferdinand as a ‘top-class person’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Harry Redknapp has launched a staunch defence of Rio Ferdinand as a “top-class person” despite his three-match FA ban – but warned the defender faces a battle to win back his place in the QPR side. | Harry Redknapp has launched a staunch defence of Rio Ferdinand as a “top-class person” despite his three-match FA ban – but warned the defender faces a battle to win back his place in the QPR side. |
| Redknapp hailed Ferdinand’s character, in spite of the former England defender being banned and fined £25,000 for comments made on social network Twitter. | Redknapp hailed Ferdinand’s character, in spite of the former England defender being banned and fined £25,000 for comments made on social network Twitter. |
| The 35-year-old former England captain directed a jibe at a follower who criticised him last month, containing the word “sket”, which the Collins English Dictionary defines as “a promiscuous girl or woman”. | The 35-year-old former England captain directed a jibe at a follower who criticised him last month, containing the word “sket”, which the Collins English Dictionary defines as “a promiscuous girl or woman”. |
| While Redknapp said the club are still weighing up whether to appeal, he believes there is no need to talk to Ferdinand about his conduct. | While Redknapp said the club are still weighing up whether to appeal, he believes there is no need to talk to Ferdinand about his conduct. |
| “We’ve not seen the FA report yet so we really can’t comment. We’re not sure exactly what he’s done and what the charge is and what the reasons are behind it. So until we see that, I’ve not seen it, we’re not in a position to comment on it. | “We’ve not seen the FA report yet so we really can’t comment. We’re not sure exactly what he’s done and what the charge is and what the reasons are behind it. So until we see that, I’ve not seen it, we’re not in a position to comment on it. |
| “I’ve not spoken to Phil [Rangers CEO Philip Beard], the chairman or Rio about it. We’ll have to sit down and see what the circumstances are. I don’t know much about it. | “I’ve not spoken to Phil [Rangers CEO Philip Beard], the chairman or Rio about it. We’ll have to sit down and see what the circumstances are. I don’t know much about it. |
| “Rio does know how to behave off the pitch, I’ve not had many footballers behave better off the pitch than Rio, on the pitch and off the pitch. I don’t have any problems with the way Rio conducts himself. I haven’t met many classier footballers in my time than Rio Ferdinand, he’s a top-class person. | “Rio does know how to behave off the pitch, I’ve not had many footballers behave better off the pitch than Rio, on the pitch and off the pitch. I don’t have any problems with the way Rio conducts himself. I haven’t met many classier footballers in my time than Rio Ferdinand, he’s a top-class person. |
| “I don’t need to talk to him about it, not really. I don’t read Twitter, I don’t even know what it is, I wouldn’t know how to read it and it doesn’t interest me one little bit.” | “I don’t need to talk to him about it, not really. I don’t read Twitter, I don’t even know what it is, I wouldn’t know how to read it and it doesn’t interest me one little bit.” |
| Redknapp said it would be a blow to lose Ferdinand for three matches – though warned he will face a battle to win back his place in the side after the defence performed well without him in the win over Aston Villa. | Redknapp said it would be a blow to lose Ferdinand for three matches – though warned he will face a battle to win back his place in the side after the defence performed well without him in the win over Aston Villa. |
| “The lads who played at the back played very well. They were outstanding and I thought Richard Dunne was man of the match the other night. Rio understands that. He just has to wait for his chance to get back in and he has to keep working hard until the opportunity comes. | “The lads who played at the back played very well. They were outstanding and I thought Richard Dunne was man of the match the other night. Rio understands that. He just has to wait for his chance to get back in and he has to keep working hard until the opportunity comes. |
| “[But] we’re not overloaded with fit defenders, so I want Rio available for every game, that’s for sure.” | “[But] we’re not overloaded with fit defenders, so I want Rio available for every game, that’s for sure.” |
| Redknapp also refused to rule Adel Taarabt out of contention for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea, after the Morocco forward pledged to fight for full fitness in a training-ground meeting on Monday. | Redknapp also refused to rule Adel Taarabt out of contention for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea, after the Morocco forward pledged to fight for full fitness in a training-ground meeting on Monday. |
| “He came to see me on Monday and we had a great chat,” said Redknapp. “He admitted he needed to get fitter: he wants to get fit, wants to play, wants to get back in the team, and that’s all I needed to hear from him. | “He came to see me on Monday and we had a great chat,” said Redknapp. “He admitted he needed to get fitter: he wants to get fit, wants to play, wants to get back in the team, and that’s all I needed to hear from him. |
| “I felt having spoken to him I didn’t want to stick him into the reserves as the only senior player amongst the kids, because Sean [Wright-Phillips] wasn’t going to play. So instead he came out and worked, and worked very, very hard with the first-team group, he put in a real shift. | “I felt having spoken to him I didn’t want to stick him into the reserves as the only senior player amongst the kids, because Sean [Wright-Phillips] wasn’t going to play. So instead he came out and worked, and worked very, very hard with the first-team group, he put in a real shift. |
| “I’m delighted with the way he’s trained, his attitude and I was pleased with the chat we had. He held his hand up and said ‘I do want to play and I can get fitter, and I want to get back in the team’. If it turns him round and he comes back, shows everyone what he can do, then it will be great. | “I’m delighted with the way he’s trained, his attitude and I was pleased with the chat we had. He held his hand up and said ‘I do want to play and I can get fitter, and I want to get back in the team’. If it turns him round and he comes back, shows everyone what he can do, then it will be great. |
| “He’s got fantastic ability, and it would be one of the great crimes in football if he doesn’t realise that. I wouldn’t hesitate to put him in the squad [to play Chelsea], he’s trained well.” |