Ferdinand peace deal: Sir Alex backs down on Kick It Out T-shirt boycott.

Rio Ferdinand and Sir Alex Ferguson had a training ground summit on Sunday to thrash out their differences over the Kick It Out controversy.

The Manchester United defender refused to wear a T-shirt in support of football’s anti-racism movement before Saturday’s 4-2 win over Stoke, prompting his manager to hint at severe punishment in a post-match TV interview.

On Sunday morning,  however, the two met in  Ferguson’s office at the club’s Carrington training ground, where Ferdinand arrived with the rest of the first team for a massage and warm-down session.

Ferguson told Ferdinand he was disappointed — not that the defender did not wear the T-shirt, but that he didn’t warn him. Ferguson thinks this made him look foolish after he told the media on Friday that all his players would wear the T-shirts.

Ferdinand accepted this point and the two agreed to move on.

A United source said on Sunday night: 'Rio wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t deliberately trying to ignore his manager’s instructions while the manager just said he ought to have been told in advance.'

With so many other players choosing not to wear the shirt, Ferguson would risk a lengthy dispute if he tries to fine Ferdinand.

On Sunday afternoon Ferdinand’s brother Anton, along with five Queens Park Rangers team-mates, also refused to wear a T-shirt before the 1-1 draw with Everton. 

And it emerged that the man who started the debate over the value of the Kick it Out campaign is set to meet the group for talks.

Reading striker Jason Roberts suggested players should not back the campaign because it was ineffectual. Now it is understood Roberts intends to meet Kick it Out chairman Lord Ouseley this week to talk about ways to make the organisation stronger.

Rio Ferdinand was criticised by former United defender Viv Anderson, the first black footballer to represent England. 

Anderson said: 'It's not just the football club, it's the FA, the players' union, the managers' union, they all back Kick It Out.

'I know Rio's not happy but you can’t have things all over the place because it doesn't achieve anything.'

Ferdinand was upset at the way the John Terry race affair was handled and unhappy with comments Lord Ouseley made on Friday evening, saying he could not speak for ‘black footballers who have lots of money and power’.

PFA chief Gordon Taylor, who contacted Ferguson on Saturday night, said: ‘We have a section of players who are biting the hand that feeds them. 

'I find it strange that Kick It Out should be targeted when Lord Ouseley, Garth Crooks and Paul Elliott have been so illuminating on the issue and done so much to highlight issues in this area.'

PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle was more supportive, saying: ‘We will make sure Rio’s rights as a human being, never mind as a footballer, are not undermined in this position. 

'Everyone has a right to free speech — just like you can’t coerce anyone into shaking hands, you can’t make somebody wear a T-shirt — although I do believe joining in with the campaign is the best way forward.'

QPR manager Mark Hughes said: 'I spoke to my players before the game and I expected them all to wear the T-shirts. But I respect their position.

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