Glenn Hoddle yesterday took an unprecedented moral stance by dropping his brightest young star from the England squad after the player was convicted of drink-driving. The 18-year-old Rio Ferdinand, who on Friday was "delighted" to be included in the national squad for the first time, was said by his mother to be "devastated" and "very, very sorry" about events. Now, instead of becoming the second youngest England debutante this century against Moldova at Wembley a week tomorrow, the West Ham United defender must live down an embarrassing setback to his emerging career. Hoddle felt that Ferdinand's behaviour sent out the wrong signals to other youngsters and failed to meet the standards he expects of England players.

The Football Association denied that the move was in response to the revelation that Princess Diana's chauffeur was over the limit, but Hoddle's action will certainly have caught the mood of the nation.

Announcing Ferdinand's punishment, the FA's director of external affairs David Davies said: "The England coach has been informed by West Ham of a drink-driving incident involving Rio Ferdinand. He has been omitted from the squad and lost the chance of making his England debut. He will, however, attend training sessions over the next few days."

The fact that Ferdinand, one of the most stylish and promising defenders in the country, will stay with the squad shows that Hoddle has given the player the benefit of the doubt, feeling that this incident was nothing more than a silly mistake. Ferdinand was stopped by police at about 1.30am on Monday morning while driving his Mercedes in Colliers Wood, south London, following a meal out with friends. He was breathalised and found to be more than 11/2 times over the legal limit.

The vehicle had been stopped, the prosecuting solicitor Anne Davies told Wimbledon magistrates' court yesterday, when "police officers spotted it swerving in the road". Ferdinand denied he had anything to drink that night, but gave a positive breath test. After being cautioned he said he had only had three drinks that night.

However, Ferdinand's mother Janice St Fort blamed her son's predicament on the alcohol he had drunk the previous night, Saturday, when he was out until four in the morning with other West Ham players, ironically celebrating his England call-up.

"He had some of those alcopops and he got a taxi home like they normally do," she said. "The next day he just went out for a meal with friends and he was dropping them all home when he got stopped. He had no idea he was over the limit, but the alcohol from the previous day hadn't come out of his system. If he'd had known he wouldn't have driven his car. It's a very honest mistake."

Alcohol Concern welcomed Hoddle's action. "This bans sets a good example," said a spokesman Mark Bennett. "Young footballers are role models and it was silly and careless of Ferdinand to drive after he had been drinking.

"But despite all the campaigns young people still do it. Drinking and driving is wrong. It's a risk to anyone in the car or anyone that happens to cross their path on the road."

Ferdinand was banned from driving for a year and fined £500, plus £40 costs.