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The blood was barely dry on Rio ­Ferdinand’s face when Matty Cole took to ­Facebook to gloat over the sickening coin attack that left the Manchester United star with a nasty wound.

And Ashley Cole’s brother was joined by mum Sue who seemed to revel in the stricken star’s agony with comments on the same thread.

After seeing Ferdinand hit above the eye by a 2p coin as he celebrated United’s last-ditch winner against bitter rivals Manchester City, Matty posted: “So happy Rio got hit in the face today when he tried to give it kissing his badge!! Straight in the eye!! Made my day.”

An hour later, Sue appeared to add a comment to the thread saying: “Bloody missed that, ha ha ha.” She added: “Give the fan that threw it a medal!!!”

(Image: REUTERS)

Chelsea star Cole, 31, and Rio have history over the John Terry race row with the United player’s brother Anton.

The online conversation, which could have been seen by all of Matty’s 647 Facebook friends, appeared to condone the shocking violence that marred Sunday’s ­otherwise thrilling game.

He also said: “They’ll show it on MoTD sooooo funny lol.”

Sue, 56, also appeared to comment on Rio’s injury later when he appeared at the ­televised X Factor final in Manchester.

On her son’s Facebook page Sue wrote: “Rio in audience at x factor, wonder if he can see?????”

Matty, 28, added: “He talks like he sucking an egg!! Rubber lip lol.” When she was approached outside her Essex home last night, Sue denied writing the posts and branded the jibes against Rio “disgusting”.

Speaking about the comments posted under her profile, she said: “Who has put that on?

“I don’t know who has done that. It wasn’t me.” Matty was unavailable for comment, despite several attempts to contact him.

(Image: Facebook)

The offending thread was removed five minutes after mum-of-two Sue spoke to our reporter.

Matty’s Facebook page features him posing with his older brother as he clutches the Premier League trophy.

He is also pictured alongside Spice Girls star Emma Bunton.

The comments appear to reflect tensions that surfaced between Ferdinand and defender Cole during the Terry race trial.

Chelsea captain Terry, 32, was accused of racially abusing QPR star Anton, during a match at Loftus Road in October last year.

(Image: Getty Images)

The former England skipper was cleared at ­Westminster magistrates.

After the verdict, Rio appeared to endorse a tweet ­referring to defence witness Cole as a “choc ice”, a slang term meaning black on the outside, white on the inside. The 34-year-old replied: “I hear you fella! choc ice is classic hahahahahahha!!”

He later insisted: “What I said is not a racist term. It’s slang used by many for someone who is being fake. So there.”

But Cole shrugged off the comments and insisted he and Rio were still pals. A ­statement issued through his lawyers said: “Ashley has been made aware of the ­discussion following comments on Twitter and wishes to make it clear he and Rio are good friends and Ashley has no intention of making any sort of complaint.

“Ashley appreciates tweeting is so quick it often results in off-hand and stray comments.” The tweet earned Rio a £45,000 fine from the FA for improper conduct but both players shook hands when their teams met at ­Stamford Bridge in October.

Pictures of Rio’s bloodied face were beamed around the world after the weekend’s Manchester derby which United won 3-2.

He had been bombarded by a barrage of coins thrown by City fans as he celebrated the vital injury-time winner.

Rio was also confronted by a Blues’ supporter who ran on to the pitch amid ugly scenes at the Etihad Stadium.

Rival keeper Joe Hart intervened to stop the thug attacking his England team-mate.

(Image: Tom Purslow)

The violence was condemned throughout football and the FA has called for life bans for those responsible.

Police are still hunting the person who hurled the coin that hit Rio.

The Football Association blasted Sunday’s violence. A spokesman said: “We will work with the clubs and authorities to identify those ­responsible and support the strongest ­sanctions available, including life bans.

“To witness Rio leaving the field with a cut above his eye to receive treatment is appalling.”

Players’ union the PFA has called for netting to be installed at grounds to prevent pitch invasions and stop coins and other missile hitting footballers.

(Image: PA)

But the Football Supporters’ Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke said: “Netting is not ­something we feel is necessary to have.

“Arrests last season were 24% down on previous seasons. It is improving and before we start making knee-jerk reactions to ­incidents we ought to bear that in mind.”

Police arrested 13 fans after the game and nine were charged with offences including drunk and disorderly, pitch invasion and racially aggravated public order.

Chief Inspector Steve Howard said: “To have just 13 arrests is a testament to the policing operation we put in place.

“However, we will continue to investigate the coin throwing incident and are determined to bring the perpetrator to justice.”