Hodgson under pressure over Ferdinand omission

ROY HODGSON was under mounting pressure to justify the omission of Rio Ferdinand from his England squad after the Manchester United central defender told friends he considered the decision to be “morally very suspect” and fears increased about its capacity to unsettle the team ahead of Euro 2012.

Hodgson intensified the furore over Ferdinand’s original exclusion when he called up the Liverpool full back Martin Kelly to replace the centre half Gary Cahill, who fractured his jaw in the friendly win against Belgium at Wembley on Saturday.

The manager has apparently not telephoned Ferdinand to explain why he has continued to overlook him and no one from the Football Association has been in contact, either, or would comment on the situation yesterday. The official line at the outset was that Hodgson omitted Ferdinand for football reasons and it was his decision alone. The FA were unable to comment further yesterday. But Ferdinand is convinced he has been marginalised because of the accusation of racism his brother Anton made against John Terry, the Chelsea captain, who has been named by Hodgson in the squad.

Terry has strongly protested his innocence and he will defend himself at Westminster magistrates court on July 9th.

Hodgson said at the time of the squad announcement he had spoken to Terry and Ferdinand, saying: “I selected John Terry for footballing reasons and I left out Rio Ferdinand for footballing reasons. I’ve spoken to both of them, of course. I had to do that.”

Ferdinand (33) was furious to learn of his latest snub. Kelly has two minutes of full international experience, while Phil Jones, another of the squad’s defenders, is effectively Ferdinand’s understudy at United. The suggestion that Kelly can also provide cover at centre half has not gone down well in the Ferdinand camp.

Ferdinand believes Terry’s upcoming trial and the issue of race is the real reason for his being sidelined and he feels badly let down not only by the FA but by Hodgson. A source close to Ferdinand said the player, capped 81 times, felt Hodgson was “disgraceful and morally very suspect” while the source added that Ferdinand had asked “. . . at what point am I considered for a call-up? Is it when you get down to the Ryman League?”

The reignited issue threatens to overshadow England’s preparations and it raises the prospect of the squad’s black players being placed in uncomfortable situations.

Meanwhile, Eden Hazard says he chose Chelsea over Manchester United because he felt he had a better chance to establish himself in the first team at Stamford Bridge.