FA deny England players' strike threat over Rio

The Football Association in England have dismissed reports that several England players threatened to boycott Saturday’s trip to Turkey as a result of the Rio Ferdinand saga.

The FA revealed they held a meeting with senior squad members, as well as the Manchester United players, in which Ferdinand’s team-mates made their feelings clear.

However, the FA insisted that any suggestions of a walkout as a result of Ferdinand’s omission from Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad were wide of the mark.

There had been reports that up to eight players – including David Beckham - were considering refusing to play in Saturday’s Euro 2004 qualifier.

Paul Barber, the FA’s director of marketing and communications, told the FA’s website, www.theFA.com: “We have had a couple of meetings with senior players as well as the Manchester United players.

“These were very amicable discussions. The players obviously wanted to express their opinions and views on what has happened. We were very happy to listen.

“They also listened to our explanation of what has happened and the reasons behind it.

“At no time – and David Beckham has asked me to make this clear – did any of the players at that meeting threaten to walk out of the squad.”