Anton Ferdinand plays down Rio's England exile
Source: AFP |
June 8, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
QUEENS Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand has refused to add his voice to the growing protest against older brother Rio's omission from England's Euro 2012 squad.
England manager Roy Hodgson insisted he left Manchester United center-back Rio Ferdinand out of his squad solely for "football reasons". But there has been intense speculation the 33-year-old's absence was due to the presence in the squad of his regular England central defensive colleague John Terry.
Chelsea captain Terry will stand trial in July on charges of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a match in October and many reports said Hodgson was keen not to select Rio to avoid a potential dressing room rift over the issue.
Anton, speaking to ITV television, said yesterday: "Things happen in football.
"It's a game of ups and downs. I am sure he'd like to be there but sadly it didn't happen this time. But we move on and, like he said, he's going to follow them from somewhere else and, as a family and as a community, we're going to do that."
Football Association chairman David Bernstein is determined not to let the controversy overshadow England's participation in the tournament that led to the resignation of previous manager Fabio Capello. "We're here to talk about the tournament, about the 23 players who are here and I'm not prepared to discuss - at all - any players who are not here," Bernstein said. "It might be an issue - but it's an issue I'm happy to talk about when the tournament is over maybe."
England manager Roy Hodgson insisted he left Manchester United center-back Rio Ferdinand out of his squad solely for "football reasons". But there has been intense speculation the 33-year-old's absence was due to the presence in the squad of his regular England central defensive colleague John Terry.
Chelsea captain Terry will stand trial in July on charges of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a match in October and many reports said Hodgson was keen not to select Rio to avoid a potential dressing room rift over the issue.
Anton, speaking to ITV television, said yesterday: "Things happen in football.
"It's a game of ups and downs. I am sure he'd like to be there but sadly it didn't happen this time. But we move on and, like he said, he's going to follow them from somewhere else and, as a family and as a community, we're going to do that."
Football Association chairman David Bernstein is determined not to let the controversy overshadow England's participation in the tournament that led to the resignation of previous manager Fabio Capello. "We're here to talk about the tournament, about the 23 players who are here and I'm not prepared to discuss - at all - any players who are not here," Bernstein said. "It might be an issue - but it's an issue I'm happy to talk about when the tournament is over maybe."
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