Editing Rio Ferdinand (section)

==Politics==
Although Ferdinand has never voted before in a [[Elections in the United Kingdom|general election]], he backed a Remain vote in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/rio-ferdinand-why-the-eu-referendum-has-made-me-want-to-vote-for-the-first-time-a3277121.html|title=Rio Ferdinand: Why referendum has made me want to vote for first time|work=Evening Standard|date=21 June 2016|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref>

===Controversies===
{{Criticism section|date=May 2025}}
In 2000, Ferdinand briefly appeared in a sexually explicit video filmed at the [[Ayia Napa]] resort in Cyprus along with fellow English footballers [[Kieron Dyer]] and [[Frank Lampard]]. [[Channel 4]] aired a brief clip as part of their 2004 documentary ''Sex, Footballers and Videotape'', claiming it was used to "remind the viewer that this is based on real life".<ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen |last=Naysmith |title=Channel 4 to show alleged Premiership sex video |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20040815/ai_n12590242 |newspaper=Sunday Herald |location=Glasgow |date=15 August 2004 |access-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817212622/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20040815/ai_n12590242/ |archive-date=17 August 2011}}</ref>

In 2002, during the rape trial of their acquaintance Martin King, Ferdinand and former Leeds colleague [[Michael Duberry]] denied allegations that Duberry had molested the woman and Ferdinand had threatened her in the Leeds nightclub Hi-Fi on the night of 22 January, as well as further allegations of scuffling and drunkenness. Both men were interviewed by the police but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in April 2003 that they would not face charges.<ref>{{cite news |first=Germaine |last=Greer |title=Nothing new about ugly sex |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/dec/16/sport.comment1 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 December 2003 |access-date=3 September 2012}}</ref> King was found guilty of indecent assault and attempted rape.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Stokes |title=Life for bailed rapist who struck again |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1430903/Life-for-bailed-rapist-who-struck-again.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1430903/Life-for-bailed-rapist-who-struck-again.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=23 May 2003 |access-date=3 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

During a radio interview on ''[[The Chris Moyles Show]]'' in October 2006, Ferdinand attracted two listener complaints and criticism from gay rights campaigner [[Peter Tatchell]] when he called Moyles a [[faggot (slang)|faggot]], followed by "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm not [[homophobic]]", after Moyles had jokingly suggested he was homosexual. [[BBC Radio 1]] later dismissed the exchange as [[banter]], while Tatchell said "since [he] very promptly apologised, I am happy to accept his regret and leave it at that".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ferdinand brands DJ 'a faggot' on air |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/02/broadcasting.football |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=2 October 2006 |access-date=26 August 2008}}</ref>

In the wake of a [[R v John Terry|court case]] involving [[John Terry]] and Rio's brother Anton, in which Terry was found not guilty of racial abuse, Rio Ferdinand sparked media controversy by expressing amusement at the comments of a [[Twitter]] user who referred to [[Ashley Cole]], who had testified in Terry's favour, as a "[[choc ice]]", a slang term which is commonly understood to mean "[[Uncle Tom|black on the outside, white on the inside]]". Ferdinand deleted the tweet shortly afterwards and denied [[choc ice]] is a racist term, adding, "And if I want to laugh at something someone tweets....I will! Hahahahaha! Now stop getting ya knickers in a twist!"<ref>{{cite news |first=Jon |last=Brodkin |title=Rio Ferdinand claims 'choc ice' term is common slang, not racist |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jul/15/twitter-rio-ferdinand-john-terry-ashley-cole |work=The Guardian |date=15 July 2012 |access-date=30 November 2019 }}</ref> Cole's lawyers released a statement in response, stating that he would not be taking the matter further.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jul/15/rio-ferdinand-ashley-cole-racist-fake |title=Rio Ferdinand: I'm not racist, I was calling Ashley Cole a fake |work=The Guardian |first=Jacob |last=Steinberg |date=15 July 2012 |access-date=30 November 2019 }}</ref> Ferdinand's words were condemned as "insensitive and untimely" by [[Professional Footballers' Association]] (PFA) chief [[Clarke Carlisle]].<ref>Lake, Jefferson (15 July 2012) [http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/cobblers/ex-cobbler-carlisle-brands-ferdinand-comment-insensitive-1-4059452 "Ex-Cobbler Carlisle brands Ferdinand comment 'insensitive'"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717071730/http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/cobblers/ex-cobbler-carlisle-brands-ferdinand-comment-insensitive-1-4059452 |date=17 July 2012}} ''Northampton Chronicle & Echo''. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2013.</ref> In August 2012, Ferdinand was fined £45,000 for his Twitter remarks after an Independent Regulatory Commission found him guilty of bringing the game into disrepute with an "improper" comment which included "a reference to ethnic origin, colour or race."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9482601/Rio-Ferdinand-fined-45000-by-FA-over-choc-ice-tweet.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9482601/Rio-Ferdinand-fined-45000-by-FA-over-choc-ice-tweet.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Rio Ferdinand fined £45,000 by FA over 'choc ice' tweet |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=17 August 2012|access-date=5 July 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In October 2014, Ferdinand was again charged by the FA for using offensive language on Twitter, after referring to the mother of a critic as a "sket", a [[Jamaican slang]] word for a promiscuous female.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Ferdinand charged by FA with misconduct over Twitter comment|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29622338|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 October 2014}}</ref> Ferdinand was fined £25,000 for the offence and banned from playing for three games.<ref name="sketgate">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29826136|title=Rio Ferdinand suspended and fined over Twitter comment|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 October 2014|access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> The FA considered Ferdinand's position as a "role model" to be an aggravating factor for the penalty, in addition to it being his second Twitter offence within three years and no admission of wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Ferdinand ban because he is role model&nbsp;– Football Association|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29916962|access-date=5 November 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 November 2014}}</ref>

In March 2015, it was announced that Ferdinand would be the new face of [[online casino]] Casino Floor. The announcement provoked strong criticism on Twitter from a number of Ferdinand's followers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlinegamblingbible.com/fans-slamming-footballer-rio-ferdinands-online-gambling-endorsement-deal/|title=Fans Slamming Footballer Rio Ferdinand's Gambling Endorsement Deal|publisher=onlinegamblingbible.com|date=23 March 2015|access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> who suggested it was inappropriate that a role model for young people should endorse gambling, particularly given the well documented struggles of many of his peers with [[problem gambling]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aldridge|first=Gemma|date=21 March 2015|title=Rio Ferdinand's online gambling endorsement deal is slammed as fans call foul|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rio-ferdinands-online-gambling-endorsement-5378030|access-date=18 August 2020|website=mirror}}</ref>

===Driving bans===
In September 1997, Ferdinand was convicted of [[driving under the influence|drink-driving]] and given a one-year driving ban. He had been breathalysed after driving on the morning after a night out, and was found to be one point over the limit.<ref name=Telegraph24Nov2000DelBoy>{{cite news|first=Christopher|last=Davies|title=From Del Boy land to Del Piero's equal|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/2993300/From-Del-Boy-land-to-Del-Pieros-equal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/2993300/From-Del-Boy-land-to-Del-Pieros-equal.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=24 November 2000|access-date=29 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> As a result, England manager [[Glenn Hoddle]] dropped Ferdinand from the squad to face Moldova in a World Cup qualification match on 10 September, meaning Ferdinand lost out on the chance, at 18 years and 10 months of age, of becoming the youngest England international since [[Duncan Edwards]].<ref name=Telegraph24Nov2000DelBoy/><ref name=Independent3Sep1997Lesson>{{cite news|first=Glenn|last=Moore|title=Ferdinand taught lesson by England|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/ferdinand-taught-lesson-by-england-1237297.html|newspaper=The Independent |location=London|date=3 September 1997|access-date=29 January 2010}}</ref>

In March 2003, Ferdinand was given another six-month ban from driving, and fined £2,500 and six [[Driving licence in the United Kingdom#Points and endorsements|penalty points]] for driving at an average of {{convert|92|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} along the [[M1 motorway|M1]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Ferdinand in driving ban|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2903543.stm|work=BBC News |date=31 March 2003|access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> In May 2005, he was criticised by a [[magistrate]] as he received his fourth ban from driving and a fine of £1,500, after being caught by traffic police "travelling at an average of {{convert|105.9|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} over a distance of nearly two miles" on the [[M6 motorway]]. Upon setting the penalty, the magistrate said Ferdinand "should be a positive role model for young people in society and this does not give out the right message". It followed two previous bans for [[speeding]], in 2002 and 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Ferdinand banned for speeding|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/4578495.stm|work=BBC News |date=25 May 2005|access-date=26 August 2008}}</ref>

In August 2020, Ferdinand was banned from driving for six months after he admitted speeding on the A27 at Hangleton in Hove. Ferdinand was reported to have driven at 85&nbsp;mph. He was ordered to pay a total of £822 in fines and costs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 August 2020|title=Ferdinand hit with road ban for speeding|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-53821948|access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>

===Order of the British Empire===
He was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2022 Birthday Honours]] for services to association football and charity,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63714|supp=y|page=B13|date=1 June 2022}}</ref> having set up the Rio Ferdinand Foundation in 2022, a charity which works with young people and aids community development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/61644594|title=Ferdinand, Muirhead, Bale & Moeen honoured by Queen|access-date=2 June 2022|date=1 June 2022|work=BBC News}}</ref>

===Racist abuse===
In December 2023, a 33-year-old man from [[Staffordshire]] was sent to prison for six months, having been found guilty of racially abusing Ferdinand at [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]] in May 2021. Ferdinand was working there as a TV pundit for a match between [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] and Manchester United.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Gall | first1=Caroline | last2=Latcham | first2=Giles | title=Rio Ferdinand abuser Jamie Arnold jailed for six months | website=BBC News | date=8 December 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9elzg3py13o | access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref>