Background: Rio Ferdinand, the England and Manchester United defender, is due for a random, routine drug test but ‘forgets’ because he is moving, he turns up back at the training ground but the testers have gone home. Two days later on September 25th he takes his test,

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which proves negative. Discussions then take place between his club, Manchester United and the Football Association, and it is decided that he will not be selected from the England Squad to go to Turkey for the crucial European Championship qualifying match on October 11th. Delays to the announcement of the squad by the manager,

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Sven Goran Eriksson, fuel speculation and by Monday October 6th information is released through a press conference by Manchester United pointing out that Ferdinand has been left out of the squad. The rest of the England team are furious, they feel his confidentiality has been compromised and that Ferdinand is being branded as ‘guilty’ without any charge being made against him; Ferdinand is due to attend a hearing on Monday 13th. The players register their discontent and mention boycotting the game as a possible option.

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The press gets hold of this and there are big divisions over the stance of the FA and the players. The FA and the players eventually announce that agreement has been reached and the match goes ahead.
Problem Set:
What communication processes were adopted in each case (there may be more than one)?

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What message/information was the sender trying to send out?
How successful was that person/body in communicating that message?
What barriers to successful communication did the information experience?
Advise the sender on an alternative approach that may have had different results.

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