Manchester United have backed down in their clash with the Football Association over Rio Ferdinand after it emerged the new England captain has withdrawn his appeal against his four-match suspension.
Ferdinand had decided to challenge the ban after FA bosses added an extra game to his original punishment for being found guilty of violent conduct against Hull City's Craig Fagan.
His subsequent appeal put him at risk of seeing the suspension increased to five games, which would have seen the defender miss the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa at the end of this month, meaning his first game back in competitive action would have been England's international friendly with Egypt at Wembley on March 3.
Ferdinand, however, did not want to jeopardise being out for so long before making his first game as the new England captain and has changed his mind as a gesture of goodwill to spare further embarrassment over the issueHis hearing was due to take place in London on Friday but has been cancelled after Ferdinand told Manchester United officials to withdraw his appeal.
Ferdinand pleaded not guilty to the original charge despite video evidence showing him clearly striking Fagan across the face.
FA officials decided his plea was "frivolous" and angered both the player and Sir Alex Ferguson by adding an extra game to the standard three-match ban.
Ferdinand, who succeeded John Terry as Fabio Capello's new captain of the national side last week after the disgraced Chelsea defender was stripped of the armband, is desperate to avoid any clashes with his Wembley employers as he settles into his new role.
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