THE Professional Footballers Association have defended Rio Ferdinand's decision not to wear a Kick It Out t-shirt in support of the anti-racism campaign and believes that players are entitled to take a stand in the issue.

The Manchester United defender was one of several black players who refused to put on the t-shirt in protest over a perceived lack of action about racism.

Ferdinand has riled Sir Alex Ferguson as a result, with the United manager describing the incident as "embarrassing" and promised to "deal with it", having earlier stated that all of his players would support Kick It Out. That suggested that club sanctions will now be imposed on the defender but the PFA have stated that they will ensure any punishments are fair.

"We will definitely monitor the [United] situation very closely and make sure Rio Ferdinand's rights as a human being, never mind as a footballer, are not undermined in this position," said Clarke Carlisle, the PFA chairman. "Everyone has a right to free speech – just like you can't coerce anyone into shaking hands, you can't make somebody wear a t-shirt, although I do believe that backing the campaign is the best way forward. The best thing is for all these players to get together and put what it is they want down on paper so we as a union can make those changes and move forward."

Jason Roberts, the Reading striker, had declared his intention not to wear a t-shirt, while others had spoken to their managers about wanting to take a similar stance. Ferguson had commented before the weekend that he did not understand the reasons behind that action, and Carlisle urged the Scot to allow Ferdinand the chance to outline his reasons before acting.

"There are two sides to this one," said the former Burnley defender. "First of all, Sir Alex Ferguson is continual in his unwavering support for the Kick It Out campaign which is commendable but you can't vilify or coerce any individual for making a stand.

"This shouldn't be seen as an element of control or defiance – just like Sir Alex Ferguson said when he was talking about Jason Roberts in his first interview, he doesn't know the reasons why this stand is being made. What we should do first of all is hear those reasons and listen to them and take them on board.

"I would sincerely hope that Sir Alex Ferguson now speaks with Rio Ferdinand and asks him why he wanted to make that stand and hopefully supports the position he is in and it isn't seen as a player-against-manager situation."

However, Viv Anderson, the former United defender and the first black player to represent England, believes Ferdinand was wrong to go against Ferguson. He also pointed out the defender's is supposed to set an example to younger members of the United squad.

"I don't agree with Rio," said Anderson, who made his England debut against Czechoslovakia in 1978. "You can see the manager was fuming and clearly he didn't know anything about it. He expects his senior boys to set an example. If he says we are all doing it together, it should be the end of it.

"But Rio has gone the other way. I don't see where he is coming from and I don't know what it is going to achieve."