ENGLAND coach Glenn Hoddle last night defended his action to axe teenage defender Rio Ferdinand from his squad for next week's World Cup qualifier against Moldova.

He refuted suggestions that Ferdinand, who failed a drink-driving test at the weekend, had been dropped because of the circumstances surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, hours before.

The England coach insists his decision had nothing to do with the tragedy in Paris, saying that the timing of the Ferdinand incident was unfortunate. Instead he has acted quickly to teach the 18-year-old a quick, sharp lesson about the price of fame.

Ferdinand, the cousin of Tottenham and England Les, was in line to have become the second youngest player in his country's history, after Duncan Edwards, at Wembley next week.

Now he must battle to get himself back into Hoddle's good books, although his pain has been alleviated by the coach's decision to allow him still to train with the squad at Burnham Beeches.

Ferdinand's mother insists he has been very unlucky. Normally a non-drinker, he toasted his success with a few alcopops on Saturday night after West Ham's win over Wimbledon. He was stopped on Sunday lunchtime, tested positive and then appeared before magistrates on Monday when he was banned for a year.

''He is absolutely devastated. He is really distraught and so very, very sorry,'' said Janice Ferdinand.

However, while it may have been a mistake, Hoddle expects certain standards from his young players and as they have not been adhered to on this occasion he has acted to send a clear warning, not only to Ferdinand but all his young players.

It is understood that the England manager has told Ferdinand this is a one-off punishment, as long as he learns his lesson.

Hoddle knows he is cutting his nose off to spite his face, as Ferdinand was lined up for his debut in the absence of Tony Adams and Martin Keown and with doubts over Sol Campbell and Stuart Pearce.

Yesterday's move is in line with the general mood Hoddle has operated in since he took over from Terry Venables last year.

One of his first acts was to issue a general warning about conduct and behaviour, insisting he would not tolerate some of the indiscipline seen under the previous regime.

And he has not shirked from matching words with deeds, leaving out Steve McManaman, as threatened, from this current squad after the Liverpool player missed last summer's World Cup match in Poland and the subsequent tour of France.

He has also warned players like Rangers' Paul Gascoigne to snap back into line whenever they have been in the headlines.

But Hoddle also has a compassionate side, his first instincts is always to help not hamper, and Ferdinand knows this incident will not be held against him should England qualify for next summer's World Cup finals. Hoddle stood by Gascoigne when he was accused of wife-battering last season and has supported Adams and Paul Merson in their rehabilitation from drink and other problems.