Ferdinand slams Hodgson over snub
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 5, 2012
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Rio Ferdinand slams Hodgson over snub. |
Rio Ferdinand's representative said England coach Roy Hodgson has shown the defender a lack of respect by repeatedly ignoring him for the European Championship.
After Gary Cahill was ruled out of Euro 2012 with a broken jaw, Hodgson selected Liverpool's Martin Kelly, who made his England debut in last week's win at Norway.
Manchester United's Ferdinand has 81 caps.
Kelly's inclusion means that more than a quarter of the 23-man England squad play for Liverpool, with the six players only managing to steer the club to eighth in the Premier League.
Ferdinand's representative Jamie Moralee said "to treat a player that has captained and served his country 81 times (in this manner) is nothing short of disgraceful. Total lack of respect from Hodgson and the FA."
Hodgson denied last month that Ferdinand wasn't in the initial 23-man squad over concerns he couldn't play with John Terry, who is facing trial for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand's brother, Anton, the Queens Park Rangers defender.
"Lampard, Terry, Barry, (captain Steven) Gerrard; all ageing but they go to the tournament," Moralee said. "Why is Rio different?"
Ferdinand indicated his annoyance himself on Twitter when he wrote: "What reasons?????!!!"
That appeared to be a reference to Hodgson insisting last month that Ferdinand was not going to Euro 2012 for "football reasons".
The reopening of the Terry-Ferdinand saga could not have come at a worse time for Hodgson, who must now ensure the controversy does not have a corrosive effect on squad morale as they travel to Poland tomorrow.
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