Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp believes that Rio Ferdinand's three-match ban for sending an offensive tweet is "very heavy".

The Football Association explained the reasons behind the punishment yesterday, claiming that they took Ferdinand's position as a role model into consideration and also revealed that the defender has not shown any remorse.

Ferdinand described a fellow Twitter user's mother as a "sket", which refers to a promiscuous woman, after receiving criticism on the social networking website back in September.

"I spoke to Rio," Redknapp told reporters. "He felt it was unjust and a heavy punishment. Someone has criticised him and he criticised back. That's life.

"I just think it is a very heavy ban, three games, but he has decided it's not worth appealing, he will just move on."

Ferdinand was also fined £25,000.