Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has rapped Swindon Town boss Paolo di Canio over his attack on young goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.

West Ham United legend Di Canio blamed Foderingham for Preston's opening goal during Sunday's 4-1 npower League One defeat, and after the 21-year-old reacted angrily to being substituted, Di Canio called him "arrogant" and "ignorant" and demanded that he openly apologise or be dropped.

Manchester United defender Ferdinand, who spent a season with the Italian at West Ham in 1999, tweeted: "Di Canio went raw on his young goalkeeper, hope the young lad is strong enough to come through this ... harsh start to League One football."

Di Canio signed Foderingham from Crystal Palace last October and made the deal a permanent one in January after the keeper conceded just six goals in 15 games. Earlier this season, the England Under-21 international celebrated the feat of going more than 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal.