Ferdinand gets 4-game ban

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been banned for four games after being found guilty of elbowing Hull’s Craig Fagan.

A Football Association disciplinary panel ruled Ferdinand was guilty of violent conduct in Saturday’s 4-0 win.

If he had pleaded guilty he would have received an automatic three-game ban. But he contested the charge so that he could play in Wednesday’s League Cup semifinal game against Manchester City, which United won 3-1 to reach the final against Aston Villa.