UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner told the Press Association: “From a UEFA disciplinary standpoint, our view would be that this type of offence would carry at least a six-month ban so it is in line with what we would expect to happen if the player had failed to take a test during a UEFA competition.

“Our guidelines state a minimum of six months for a first offence so from our point of view it would seem appropriate.”

Faulkner added that they would extend Ferdinand’s ban to their European competitions once, as is almost certain, FIFA apply it to all football worldwide.

He said: “As soon as FIFA extend the ban worldwide we would follow suit with the Champions League and European matches.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been an outspoken critic of the length of time it has taken for the Ferdinand case to be dealt with – he has insisted that it could have all been done within a week of the defender failing to attend the test on September 23.

Blatter is expected to wait until the player’s appeal is heard before commenting, but FIFA vice-president David Will said in normal circumstances all suspensions imposed for doping-related offences were extended to apply worldwide.

Will said: “It is still an FA matter until the appeal has been heard. If the player is still suspended after that then it will be up to the FIFA disciplinary committee to decide whether to extend it worldwide, as happens in the majority of cases.”

Nick Davies, media director of the International Association of Athletic Federations, said: “Obviously this is a football case but if it had been an athlete it would have been two years ban – not an eight-month suspension.”