Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The new England football captain Rio Ferdinand has withdrawn his appeal for a one-match ban after his three-match suspension for Manchester United was extended to four games.

Ferdinand was charged after a clash with Hull City's Craig Fagan in a Premier League game last month and he appealed against the automatic three-match suspension.

But the Football Association says the appeal was frivolous, and gave Ferdinand a further one-game ban.

The defender has already missed two games under the suspension and United says on their website that he has now withdrawn the request, which was due to go before the appeals board at the end of the week.