Anton Ferdinand: Rio will support England after snub

John Terry, Rio Ferdinand
© PA Photos
Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand has insisted that his brother and Manchester United centre-back Rio will back England all the way at the European Championships.

The 33-year-old was snubbed twice from the Three Lions squad by manager Roy Hodgson, who insisted that football reasons were behind the decision to axe the Red Devils player.

Despite Hodgson's claims, many have suggested that Ferdinand's omission is due to tension between him and former England skipper John Terry, who is due to stand trial for racially abusing Anton at the end of the European Championships.

"Football is a game of ups and downs but as I say I'm sure [Rio would] like to be there but sadly it isn't happening for him this time," Ferdinand told ITV's Daybreak.

"We move on and like he said on numerous occasions he's going to support them from somewhere else and as a family and as a community we're going to do that."

Meanwhile, England have been suffered another blow in their preparations for their opening game against France on Monday after Jermain Defoe dropped out of the squad temporarily after learning of his father's death last night.
Tables
TeamPGDPTS
1Manchester United384389
2Manchester City383278
3Chelsea383675
4Arsenal383573
5Tottenham Hotspur382072
6Everton381563
7Liverpool382861
8West Bromwich Albion38-449
9Swansea City38-446
10West Ham United38-846
11Norwich City38-1744
12Fulham38-1043
13Stoke City38-1142
14Southampton38-1141
15Aston Villa38-2241
16Newcastle United38-2341
17Sunderland38-1339
RWigan Athletic38-2636
RReading38-3028
RQueens Park Rangers38-3025