Manchester United are to appeal against the four-match ban the Football Association has handed to Rio Ferdinand.

The defender was originally given a three-match ban by the FA after video footage showed him lashing out at Craig Fagan during United's 4-0 win over Hull earlier this month. The sanction was then extended after Manchester United made what the governing body described as a "frivolous appeal".

That makes United's latest appeal risky, particularly as Ferdinand will miss the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa on 28 February if the FA comes down hard on the Premier League champions again and extends the ban by a further game.

The 31-year-old centre-back missed United's 3-1 victory over Arsenal yesterday and will also sit out their match against Portsmouth on Saturday and the visit to Villa next Wednesday.