Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been left fuming at the perceived inconsistency at two incidents involving his club.
Having failed to overturn a four-match ban for captain Vincent Kompany following his dismissal in last week's Manchester FA Cup derby, Mancini was on the look-out for similar punishments being meted out.
So, in feeling that Glen Johnson's tackle on Joleon Lescott during City's Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday was far worse than the challenge from Kompany, Mancini was aghast that the Reds defender did not even concede a free-kick.
It sparked an angry row between Mancini and Steven Gerrard and led to yet more discussion about how the rule book is being interpreted.
Yet Ferdinand is among those who feels the whole sideshow has been totally unnecessary.
"I don't understand why this debate is still going on," said the England international.
"It's stated clearly in the rule book, we get told before the season when all the referees go around the different clubs: a two-footed tackle is a red card. It's as simple as that.
"It baffles me that there's any argument or debate around the issue."
