The Football Association's hearing into Rio Ferdinand's missed drugs test has been adjourned after the first day of proceedings at Bolton's Reebok Stadium.
The Manchester United star is in front of a disciplinary commission to answer a misconduct charge for "failure or refusal" to take a test in September.
The FA spent the day outlining its case against Ferdinand, with his legal team set to present his defence on Friday.
If found guilty, he could face a fine and lengthy ban from the game.
The hearing is scheduled to finish on Friday, but could continue into Saturday morning or even Monday given the amount of evidence to be considered and the number of witnesses set to be called.
Ferdinand arrived an hour before the hearing started at 1100 GMT on Thursday, wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie.
The 25-year-old was accompanied by solicitor and United director Maurice Watkins as well as his QC, Ronald Thwaites.
The pair, who are leading Ferdinand's defence, travelled to United's Carrington training ground with the three members of the commission to view the scene of the player's alleged offence.
They were accompanied by Steve Barrow, head of the FA's compliance unit.
Ferdinand passed a drugs test 36 hours after missing his scheduled appointment back in September and has not been picked for England since.
But he has continued to play for his club, sparking a controversy that has even got Fifa president Sepp Blatter involved.
Blatter has suggested that Ferdinand should have been suspended until a decision was made, and that United should be docked points for the matches they have won with Ferdinand in the team since his missed drugs test.
"Surely, if we condemn a player who has either refused or miraculously forgotten to take a drug test it is not Fifa that is at fault, but those directly responsible for this inexcusable omission and its aftermath," he said.
"That is the individual himself, his club, and the FA, which has not swiftly enforced the laws on the suspension of players that ought to be applied.
"If Fifa sees this sort of thing happening, it is its duty to intervene. It is the only way to make sure that the law is the same for everyone, rich and poor.
"Fifa cannot accept different strokes for different folks."
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I believe the FA will look to make Rio a scapegoat
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Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor believes there is little chance of a fair hearing for Ferdinand after so much press scrutiny.
"Any opportunity to deal with the matter objectively has been lost," said Taylor.
"The whole thing is a complete mess and the FA has put itself into a very difficult position.
"On one hand you have Sepp Blatter trying to make Rio out to be public enemy number one, on the other you have the FA trying to stand up to Manchester United.
"I don't want to pre-judge the hearing but it appears the FA feels it has to put a marker down.
"I believe it will look to make Rio a scapegoat. If that happens, it would be extremely unfair."
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