England's best blanked by FIFA 'think tank'

England defender Rio Ferdinand has been snubbed by world governing body FIFA.

The organisation’s ’think tank’ Technical Study Group announced the 10 nominees for the adidas Golden Ball award, with the recipient declared the most valuable player of this year’s World Cup.

But despite many observers believing the Leeds star had proved himself to be the world’s best defender during the tournament, Ferdinand is not among the top ten.

Fellow defenders, Spain’s Fernando Hierro and South Korea’s Myung Bo Hong, are on the list which includes Brazilians Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos, Germany’s Oliver Kahn and Michael Ballack, as well as El Hadji Diouf of Senegal and Turkey’s Hasan Sas.

Former Aston Villa manager Dr Jozef Venglos heads the group, with FIFA technical director and former Scotland boss Andy Roxburgh and FIFA technical advisor Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, two of his assistants.

There are four national coaches in Frank Farina (Australia), Anghel Iordanescu (Romania), Francisco Maturana (Colombia) and Holger Osieck (Canada).

The remaining names of the 11-man panel include Abedi Pele (FIFA Football Committee), Lim Kon Chon (AFC technical director), Alvin Corneal (FIFA instructor) and Sturm Graz coach Ivica Osim.

Representatives of the media will elect the recipients of the golden, silver and bronze ball, with voting to take place this Sunday and the winner announced on July 2.

Since the trophy’s inception in 1982, past winners have been Paolo Rossi, Diego Maradona, Toto Schillaci, Romario and Ronaldo.