London, June 4 (ANI): Manchester United striker Rio Ferdinand is reportedly over England manager Roy Hodgson selecting a defender who has played just two minutes of international football ahead of him for Euro 2012.
Responding to news that Gary Cahill had suffered a double fracture of the jaw in a collision with Joe Hart at Wembley on Saturday, Hodgson has selected Liverpool's Martin Kelly.
The Ferdinand camp has been left fuming, with the player's representative and friend Jamie Moralee branding the decision as 'disgraceful'.
"Lampard, Terry, Barry, Gerrard; all ageing but they go to the tournament. Why is Rio different? To treat a player that has captained and served his country 81 times (in this manner) is nothing short of disgraceful. Total lack of respect from Hodgson and the FA as far as I am concerned," the Daily Mail quoted Moralee, as saying.
Earlier, Ferdinand was controversially omitted from Hodgson's 23-man squad in the first place for what the manager described as 'football reasons'. It was, however, clear that the fact that John Terry faces trial for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand's brother Anton was the reason behind his decision.
Manchester United defender Ferdinand also expressed his anger and disbelief via Twitter.
"What reasons?????!!!" he tweeted pointedly.
Kelly made his debut in Oslo nine days ago as a substitute two minutes from time in the 1-0 victory against Norway. He had only been called in by Hodgson for experience to give the Chelsea contingent an extended break after their Champions League heroics.
The Football Association (FA) attempted to insist that Kelly was selected ahead of Ferdinand, subject to clearance from UEFA, for football reasons.
"Kelly trained with the England players last week," FA said in its statement. (ANI)