This is why Rio Ferdinand should have been selected ahead of John Terry in the first place, and why Terry should have paid the price for the moral mess England are in a week before the first game of Euro 2012.
It is not because of what did or did not happen between Terry and Ferdinand’s brother, Anton, at Loftus Road in October. It is up to a magistrate to determine that when Terry stands trial for a racially aggravated public order offence next month.
It is because of the request Chelsea made to delay the trial until after this month’s tournament. They did not want it sooner for fear it might disrupt their season, and that is fair enough. But it has created what is now an uncomfortable situation for the FA and one that they, and Hodgson, perhaps should have anticipated.
There can be no one who believes choosing Martin Kelly ahead of Ferdinand is what is best for England. No, Hodgson could not call up Ferdinand for one reason: Terry is in the squad.
From the moment Hodgson opted for Terry ahead of Ferdinand for “football reasons”, there was always a danger England might suffer injuries that would expose the reasons for the nonsense they are. Something, presumably, thought up by a lawyer to stop Hodgson talking himself into trouble.
Ferdinand finished the season well, with Sir Alex Ferguson selecting him ahead of Phil Jones, in the squad as one of England’s four centre halves.
If everyone accepts it would be difficult to take Ferdinand and Terry, the FA needed to take the lead as they did when they stripped Terry of the captaincy.
Back in February, Ferdinand might not have made it for football reasons. But now he is worthy of a place and it looks ridiculous when a right back with two minutes of international experience replaces a central defender ahead of a man with 81 caps.
Hodgson did not speak to Ferdinand and Terry about playing together. He knew it would be difficult. But had he picked Ferdinand, and pointed to the trial’s delay for Terry’s omission, there would be no issue now.
On Saturday, when it became obvious Cahill may miss out, Hodgson would not discuss Ferdinand. He thinks he avoided the issue again by selecting Kelly. Perhaps Gary Neville will be told he is training for real next.
So England go to Poland and Ukraine, amid concerns about racism in Eastern Europe, without the brother of the player who might have been racially abused as the player who might have racially abused him is already in the squad. – Daily Mail