Hearing timetable

The Rio Ferdinand case is expected to last two days. This is how it will work:

1. The hearing starts at 11 am today at Bolton's Reebok Stadium.

2. The independent three-man commission will be headed by the Kent FA representative Barry Bright. None of the commission is employed by the FA, nor been involved in the gathering of evidence.

3. The FA's case against Ferdinand, prepared by Steve Barrow, the head of the FA's compliance unit, will be presented first.

4. Ferdinand's legal team, led by Graham Shear, will then make the case for the defence, which is expected to include a character reference from Sven Goran Eriksson.

6. When both cases have been heard, the commission will decide on a verdict.

7. When the verdict is announced, Ferdinand will have 14 days to appeal.