• 'There's not a chance. The public knows that too'
• Van der Vaart also says he finds omission 'strange'
The former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has dismissed Roy Hodgson's explanation that Rio Ferdinand was omitted from the England squad for purely 'footballing reasons' and claims it is all to do with the charges of racial abuse that are hanging over John Terry.
"There's not a chance Rio Ferdinand was left out of the England squad for 'footballing reasons'. Not a chance. The public knows that too," Fowler wrote in his blog for PaddyPower.com. "The reason is Rio's brother, Anton, was allegedly racially abused by John Terry [who denies the charge]. I've read that Ferdinand got in touch with Hodgson shortly after he was appointed as manager to say he was willing to play in the same England team as Terry."
"Rio was then overlooked for the Euro 2012 23-man squad for what was described as 'purely a footballing decision' by Hodgson. It's the choice by Hodgson to replace the injured Chelsea centre-half Gary Cahill with Martin Kelly that has really caused the backlash now."
"I played with Rio Ferdinand at Leeds United. He is a fantastic player who reads the game brilliantly. He started 30 Premier League games for Manchester United last season and nearly won the league. Footballing reasons?"
Terry will likely be partnered in England's central defence by Manchester City's Joleon Lescott after Liverpool's Kelly was called up instead of the Manchester United defender, but the Tottenham and Holland forward Rafael van der Vaart believes it is "strange" that Ferdinand's wealth of experience was not called upon.
"It surprised me because I think he's still one of the best defenders in England, and maybe in the world," said Van der Vaart. "Of course, he's a little bit older now, but he's still fit and fresh and he played for Manchester United." Read More
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