The 25-year-old Manchester United defender decided to begin his suspension on January 20 when he lodged his appeal, even though he could technically have carried on playing.

The decision was made in the hope that the three man appeals panel, headed by independent QC Ian Mill and also containing FA chairman Geoff Thompson and FA councillor Roger Burden, would cut the suspension far enough to allow Ferdinand to play for England in this summer’s European Championships.

Ferdinand is not due to return to action until September 20 and while he has appealed in the hope of reducing his suspension, he is also aware it could be increased to as much as 12 months.

While there is no further appeal through the FA, if he still wishes to fight the outcome of the second hearing, Ferdinand could take his case to the Sports Arbitrational Panel in Switzerland.

United director and lawyer Maurice Watkins blasted the original verdict, delivered in December, as ‘savage and unprecedented’.

The Professional Footballers’ Association have been equally vehement in their belief that the suspension – which followed Ferdinand’s failure to attend a routine drugs test at United’s Carrington training ground on September 23 – was too severe.