Ferdinand will be represented by a team from United’s experienced lawyers James Chapman for the disciplinary hearing, which is unlikely to take place until mid-December meaning he should be available for the club’s two remaining Champions League group matches.

An FA spokesman told The Press Association: “Rio Ferdinand has responded to the charge issued on October 29. He has denied the charge and requested a personal hearing. A date for the hearing will be scheduled in due course.”

Manchester United insist Ferdinand was merely invoking his right to wait until the 14 days was up before responding to the FA’s charge, and deny suggestions that they are employing delaying tactics to ensure the hearing takes place after Manchester United’s final Champions League group matches on November 26 and December 9.

The FA, Ferdinand and United will now attempt to fix a mutually convenient date for the hearing – but if it is delayed too long then Ferdinand could be banned for the Euro 2004 finals.

The crux of the case will centre on evidence from the FA’s compliance unit that there was a deliberate element to the player leaving the club’s Carrington training ground without taking a test, after a team from UK Sport had requested Ferdinand and three other players provide urine samples.

English football’s most expensive player claims he simply forgot about the test and was out of contact for two hours afterwards.

His mobile phone records could prove crucial. Ferdinand will hope the records support his claim that he did contact the FA once he realised he had forgotten the appointment but reports say before speaking to the FA or United’s club doctor Mike Stone he sent a text message to Patrick O’Reilly of the Highfield Medical Association in Stockport, who had been treating him for a kidney infection.

Ferdinand faces a maximum ban of two years but a three-month suspension is a more likely punishment.