Although he’s a Dirty Red I’ve always had a grudging respect for Rio Ferdinand.  Starts his career on a drunk driving rap. Builds it up with some very hot n spicy after match party shenanigans.  Kidnaps and nearly kills David Beckham for his World Cup Wind Up TV show. Yup, right before a World Cup!! And recently just,  he refuses an England gig to go commentate on the very game in some country that’s very foreign. Got to respect the man. Takes personal PR back to the stone ages where it belongs.

So it pains me to read this week that while Madonna is provoking ‘a mutiny in Malawi’ (Daily Mail April 13^th), accused by the country’s President of ’exploiting her aid work for personal publicity’ and ’of making the poor dance for her’, Rio is held up as a bastion of doing the right thing.

“ (while)Madonna believes she deserves to be treated differently from other visiting foreigners, it is worth making her aware that Malawi has hosted many international stars including Chick Norris, Bono, David James, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville who have never demanded state attention or decorum despite their equally dazzling stature.”

C’mon, Rio mate. Get back on your game.