Manchester United have requested written clarification for the reasons behind Rio Ferdinand's eight-month drugs ban.
Ferdinand was today officially notified of the punishment, handed down by an independent three-man commission at Bolton last Friday and the Press Association understands United immediately made their request on his behalf in line with FA regulations.
While the decision will prolong the amount of time Ferdinand has to appeal against his suspension, United feel they are justified in asking for further details as the central defender and his legal team ponder their next course of action.
Because of an anticipated delay over the Christmas holidays, United do not expect to receive a reply until early next week, probably by fax.
It is only when the response is sent that Ferdinand's 14-day appeal deadline kicks in.
So, should the reply be issued on Monday as anticipated, the 25-year-old will have to decide by January 12 - the day his ban is due to start - whether he was going to contest the suspension.
Nothing coming out of the United camp in the last few days has suggested there has been any change of heart from the official response to the verdict.
At the time club director and solicitor Maurice Watkins said an appeal was "inevitable".
Before the conclusion of the hearing, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson went so far as to suggest Ferdinand should take the matter to the civil courts should any appeal not prove fruitful, although that statement has already brought a stinging response from FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
Ferdinand has been told by Ferguson that his place in the Old Trafford line-up over the Christmas period is not under threat but as it stands, he would miss the remainder of United's season once he has faced Newcastle on January 11 th.
Providing the former West Ham favourite lodges his appeal during the first full week of the New Year, his hearing, chaired by an independent QC, is likely to be heard at the beginning of February, before the Red Devils re-enter the Champions League.