Ferguson blames it on Rio as United are rocked by party fallout

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Rio Ferdinand felt the force of Sir Alex Ferguson's fury yesterday for organising the Christmas party which ended with a Manchester United player being arrested over a rape allegation.

The United manager let rip at Ferdinand for organising Monday's drink-fuelled bash which cost the players £5,000 each and ended with defender Jonny Evans being quizzed after a 26-year-old woman claimed she was raped.

Boys' night out: United players head for their party

Ferguson had warned his senior players that the party should not damage the club's name and Ferdinand and his team-mates were confronted by the furious boss when they turned up for training.

The exclusive party in Manchester, which included a visit to a casino and a pub before finishing at a hotel in the early hours, was more than enough to trigger Fergie's famous hairdryer blast.

Ferdinand, 29, had to shoulder much of the responsibility because he organised the event and collected the whip-round at £5,000 per player.

Evans, who strongly protests his innocence, has yet to speak to Ferguson since his stay in a police cell on Tuesday.

Evans, 19, who may not report for training today, spent the final four months of last season helping Sunderland gain promotion.

That loan spell earned the defender his first full cap for Northern Ireland, but his inability to make a breakthrough at United has led to suggestions that he could join Roy Keane's team permanently.

Evans, who is not a party animal and is desperate to stay at United, is said to be on tenterhooks about how Ferguson will react and hopes his boss will be a sympathetic father figure rather than punish him if he allowed himself to be in any way compromised in a way that reflects poorly on the club, two years after Cristiano Ronaldo was falsely accused of rape.

Evans was in Monaco, where he had travelled with his father on an earlymorning flight to look at property, when he was told of the allegations.

Up to 100 women — but not wives and girlfriends — had been invited to the bash, which included playing the tables at a casino and drinks at the Old Grapes pub, owned by Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn.

Evans had left the party with his brother and friends before catching a 7am plane. He flew straight back and reported to a police station.

Evans, who was released on police bail, faced further questioning yesterday, as did his accuser.

 

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