Ferdinand, who will miss the rest of this season and the Euro 2004 championships after losing an appeal against the ban on Thursday, made it clear that he felt personally betrayed by some FA officials.

Were he to play for England again, it would even be "very hard" to have to shake their hands during the traditional pleasantries exchanged between players and senior FA staff before international games, the 25-year-old said.

"I've had huge support from my family, fans, players and mates from all over the country," Ferdinand told the Sun newspaper.

MU TO PLAY IN USA
AFP, Manchester

Manchester United will tour the United States this summer for a second consecutive year and play matches against Bayern Munich, Celtic and AC Milan, the club announced on Friday.

The tour begins in Chicago with a repeat of the 1999 Champions League Final against German champions Bayern.

United's English Premiership rivals Liverpool have also confirmed they will be playing three matches in the United States this year, their first tour of the States for 40 years.

Gerard Houllier's side will compete alongside United, Celtic, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and AS Roma in the Champions World series between July 26 and August 3.

Manchester United 2004 US tour fixtures:
July 25: v Bayern Munich in Chicago
July 28: v Celtic in Philadelphia
July 31: v AC Milan in New York

HITZFELD'S CONCERN
Reuters, Berlin
Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has again said he has no plans to leave the struggling club but he is concerned a few of his players are operating in a comfort zone.

"I'm not going to run away," Hitzfeld told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Saturday.

"I'm going to meet the challenge. I'm not here just to pick up championships. That would almost be boring. I'm here because it's a challenge to put out fires."

Hitzfeld, whose side have struggled in the Bundesliga and were knocked out of the Champions League last week, has come under pressure this season as his expensive collection of players have repeatedly failed to live up to expectations.

Hitzfeld is in his sixth season at Bayern, who lie second, nine points behind leaders Werder Bremen, and he believes he will need to make changes to his squad.

"It's dangerous that some (players) feel a little bit too comfortable here," he said. "I'd like to see more of a competitive situation."

LIFELINE FOR LEEDS
AFP, Leeds
English Premiership club Leeds United was Friday taken over by a consortium headed by local businessman Gerald Krasner.

The takeover was facilitated by a complex restructuring which involves the club's parent company, Leeds United PLC, being put into administration.

"The consortium has done its job," Krasner told Sky Sports News. "Leeds United is saved for the supporters."

Krasner, an insolvency specialist, will take over as chairman of the club and former Leeds player Peter Lorimer, one of the stars of the club in its 1970s glory years, has been appointed as a director, a move that will go down well with the fans.