Rio Ferdinand criticises Gareth Southgate for decision to drop Raheem Sterling over Joe Gomez bust-up

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Rio Ferdinand has criticised Gareth Southgate over his decision to drop Raheem Sterling for his bust-up with Joe Gomez on England obligation.

Sterling has remained a part of England’s squad however will play no half of their Euro 2020 qualifier in opposition to Montenegro on Thursday.

The Manchester City winger reacted angrily to Gomez when the pair met at England’s coaching base and reportedly requested the Liverpool defender ‘you still the big man?’.

Both gamers squared up to one another throughout Liverpool’s 3-1 win over City at Anfield on Sunday and the incident at St George’s Park was a continuation of that.

Sterling has since apologised to Gomez and the England squad and Ferdinand has criticised Southgate for deciding to make the incident public.

‘Gareth has handled being England manager brilliantly – up to this point,’ Ferdinand posted on Facebook.

‘He has performed himself in a admirable, eloquent & partaking manner. Helping to make a Nation really feel like they will have some type of confidence & respect for the nationwide staff.
However, I really feel this incident may have been dealt with higher.

‘Keep it behind closed doors & deal with it internally surely?! Come International Week, it’s meet up time between Sterling & Gomez… Raheem Sterling was nonetheless upset with Gomez concerning the consequence on Sunday & their little pushing/phrases stated through the #lfc vs #mcfc recreation.

‘So he has obviously gone into the England camp heated & gone for Gomez, in doing so grabbed Gomez by the throat. Obviously as a manager I’m positive having a harmonious squad is the most effective situation – handshakes and hugs on sight not confrontations. But let’s be trustworthy now this sort of stuff isn’t unusual in squads filled with testosterone.

‘In the assorted squads I’ve been part of I’ve seen gamers get punched within the face, ribs damaged, nostril busted, head kicked like a soccer…..a throat seize was the equal of the intricate handshake embraces which are all too acquainted right this moment!

‘The main question is: Why this couldn’t be dealt with internally?

‘I suppose the administration have felt it will be higher to nip it within the bud prior to the press, brokers, household buddies leaking the information.

‘However, the worst case on this occasion would have been somebody asking in a press convention “what happened between Raheem & Gomez, we heard there was a fight”. Easy reply & we’ve got a recreation to focus on. Incident completed and dusted. No participant appears to be like any worse, we transfer on.

‘Now Raheem is left to defend himself from the entire haters that had had their keyboards turned off due to him turning into a really worthy ambassador for the English recreation, and rightly so.

‘If this was a terrible incident then I would be all for public shaming & discipline. But for this ‘throat grab’ that we’re TOLD it’s for I can’t perceive it.

‘Gareth would little doubt had seen worse many occasions throughout his time as a participant and supervisor.

‘I simply really feel this might and may have been dealt with higher to assist the participant & not cling him out to dry.

‘One of our World Class gamers who has performed himself splendidly by means of Racism and unwarranted criticism in an England shirt will now come below extra scrutiny and be vilified within the media little doubt – when this might have been handled internally. Hindsight is a superb factor although.

‘It seems to me, Raheem felt embarrassed by all that went on at the weekend…. a sign of winning mentality….. however channeled wrongly. Help educate him!’