Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand has insisted that his brother and Manchester United centre-back Rio will back England all the way at the European Championships.

The 33-year-old was snubbed twice from the Three Lions squad by manager Roy Hodgson, who insisted that football reasons were behind the decision to axe the Red Devils player.

Despite Hodgson's claims, many have suggested that Ferdinand's omission is due to tension between him and former England skipper John Terry, who is due to stand trial for racially abusing Anton at the end of the European Championships.

"Football is a game of ups and downs but as I say I'm sure [Rio would] like to be there but sadly it isn't happening for him this time," Ferdinand told ITV's Daybreak.

"We move on and like he said on numerous occasions he's going to support them from somewhere else and as a family and as a community we're going to do that."

Meanwhile, England have been suffered another blow in their preparations for their opening game against France on Monday after Jermain Defoe dropped out of the squad temporarily after learning of his father's death last night.