Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has backed Rio Ferdinand after the defender was given a three-match FA ban for a comment he posted on Twitter.
Ferdinand, who has been criticised for his performances since arriving at Loftus Road in the summer, was fined £25,000 and "severely warned as to his future conduct" after the alleged sexist tweet.
Redknapp said Rangers, who secured only their second league win of the season when they beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Loftus Road on Monday night, were considering whether to appeal against the ban.
Describing Ferdinand as "a top-class person," he said: "We've not seen the FA report yet, so we really can't comment.
"I've not spoken to Phil [Rangers CEO Philip Beard], the chairman or Rio about it. We'll have to sit down and see what the circumstances are [in terms of any appeal].
"I've not had many footballers behave better off the pitch than Rio -- both on the pitch and off the pitch.I don't have any problems with the way Rio conducts himself.
#INSERT type:image caption:Harry Redknapp indicated that QPR could appeal against Ferdinand's ban. END#
"I haven't met many classier footballers in my time than Rio Ferdinand -- he's a top-class person.
"We're not overloaded with fit defenders, so I want him available for every game, that's for sure"'
Meanwhile, Redknapp refused to rule Adel Taarabt out of contention for Rangers' Premier League trip to Chelsea on Saturday.
He said the Moroccan had vowed to battle for full fitness in a training-ground chat on Monday following the pair's drawn-out public spat over his condition.
"He came to see me on Monday and we had a great chat," the manager explained. "He admitted he needed to get fitter: he wants to get fit, wants to play, wants to get back in the team, and that's all I needed to hear from him.
"He's got fantastic ability, and it would be one the great crimes in football if he doesn't realise that.
"I wouldn't hesitate to put him in the squad [for the Chelsea game] -- he's trained well."
"He came to see me on Monday and we had a great chat," the manager explained. "He admitted he needed to get fitter: he wants to get fit, wants to play, wants to get back in the team, and that's all I needed to hear from him.
"He's got fantastic ability, and it would be one the great crimes in football if he doesn't realise that.
"I wouldn't hesitate to put him in the squad [for the Chelsea game] -- he's trained well."