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'There was a fear the animosity could cause us problems': Roy Hodgson insists he 'couldn't' pick both John Terry and Rio Ferdinand for England's Euro 2012 squad after the Chelsea legend was accused of racially abusing Rio's younger brother Anton

Roy Hodgson has revealed that he couldn't include both John Terry and Rio Ferdinand for his England squad at Euro 2012 due to allegations that the Chelsea legend racially abused his international team-mate's younger brother Anton.

Ferdinand and Terry were widely perceived as England's best two centre-backs at the time, though then England manager Hodgson was handed a difficult decision due to 'non-footballing reasons'.

Terry was accused of using racist language towards Rio's younger brother during a match between Chelsea and QPR at Loftus Road in October 2011.

The Chelsea star, who was then captaining England, was handed a four-game ban and a £220,000 fine from the Football Association, however he was cleared in court after being charged over the incident - while he has always denied abusing Anton Ferdinand.