Hammers to fine Ferdinand

Alan Curbishley has confirmed Anton Ferdinand will be disciplined after the West Ham United defender broke club rules.

Ferdinand flew to the United States last month for a birthday celebration after the Hammers squad had been given a few days off.

But Curbishley had ordered the players not to travel abroad and the centre-half had told the club he was visiting his grandmother on the Isle of Wight.

The England Under 21 international has owned up to his mistake, but is likely to be punished with a heavy fine by the Premiership's bottom club.

Speaking after the dramatic 4-3 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, Curbishley confirmed action would be taken against Ferdinand.

"I didn't find out about the Anton Ferdinand situation until Saturday, but I had picked my team to face Tottenham and we had trained hard all week," said Curbishley.

"But it is not what you want and you want to be talking about football.

"I have spoken to him briefly, he has apologised and we will take it from there.

"The players were all told they could not leave the country and he will clearly be disciplined.

"We have changed the structure and the fines are now heavier than they were.

"There is so much negativity surrounding us at the moment and I understand that because of the predicament that we find ourselves in. But it is affecting the players.

"Every day there seems to be something different and I don't hear about it from the other 19 clubs in the Premiership at the moment. It is one-way traffic."