Roy Hodgson rejects Rio Ferdinand's claims England 'treats players like babies'

England manager Roy Hodgson has rubbished claims made by Rio Ferdinand that the Football Association mollycoddles the national players.

Ferdinand made the claims in his new autobiography #2 Sides and specifically referred to the Netherlands' World Cup campaign as an example to follow.

The Queens Park Rangers defender said that former Holland boss Louis van Gaal, who is now the Manchester United manager, "treated his players as grown-ups".

When asked about the claims, Hodgson told reporters: "No, I have no response to that at all. We don't treat them like babies and I don't know what he is referring to.

"Rio Ferdinand has never actually been in a squad that I have coached or managed, so I have no comment about it whatsoever. It belongs to the past."

Ferdinand retired from international duty last year.