Manchester United defender and veteran footballer Rio Ferdinand has been left out of the 2012 England Euro squad. According to England’s new manager Roy Hodgson, Ferdinand was omitted from the squad for ‘footballing reasons’ and nothing else.

Ferdinand’s absence was revealed when Hodgson made the official 23-man team announcement on Wednesday that includes Ferdinand’s teammates Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck.

However, Chelsea captain John Terry was selected for the team despite facing alleged racist charges against QPR player Anton Ferdinand who happens to be Rio’s brother. Terry, who denies the charges, will be facing them in court in July.

Hodgson said that: ”I selected John Terry for footballing reasons and I left out Rio Ferdinand for footballing reasons. I’ve spoken to both of them of course. I had to do that. In the last couple of days I’ve spoken to both of them and explained to them why I’ve come to the decision.”

Although Hodgson acknowledges that some people will be raising their eyebrows at the selection that was made between Ferdinand and Terry he stands firmly by it and will have to live with it no matter what the outcomes.

See below for the 2012 England Euro squad:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

Standby: Jack Butland (Birmingham), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

Source: Daily Mail; Super Sport