'Rio has nothing to hide'

Manchester United today denied there had been a cover-up over Rio Ferdinand's mobile phone records even though it has emerged that some entries sent to the Football Association were unreadable.

Ferdinand's phone details are regarded as a key factor in whether he should be charged with a "wilful" failure to attend a drugs test.

United were quick to deny suggestions that the £30million defender had anything to hide, saying the process was being dealt with in the "proper manner" between United and the FA.

However, suspicions about Ferdinand's failure to attend the test have increased because some phone bill entries on the day he missed it were blurred or had been blacked out by the time they arrived at Soho Square.

It is another headache for FA bosses, who thought on Tuesday they had gathered the evidence they required when United finally sent the documents concerning Ferdinand.

Asked today if the club was trying to cover anything up, a United spokesman said: "No it is not. It is being dealt with in the proper manner between the FA and Manchester United." He refused to be drawn on suggestions that the FA will now have to request another, clearer copy of Ferdinand's mobile phone records, saying: "We have no comment on this or any other matter because it is confidential."

The FA also refused to comment. The decision on whether to charge Ferdinand, which could have been made today, is set to be delayed until tomorrow or after the weekend.

Ferdinand claimed he forgot about the test because he was in the middle of moving house. But copies of the phone records indicate that Ferdinand's mobile phone was switched on when United officials were desperately trying to contact him.

The England defender is considering launching a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about two tabloid Sunday newspapers who printed his mobile phone records on the day he missed the drugs test.