Soccer · EnglandSoccer
Ferdinand was ready to walk off in Madrid
Friday, 19 November 2004 13:32England defender Rio Ferdinand has said he would have been happy to walk off the pitch and abandon Wednesday night's friendly against Spain.
Ferdinand believes his team-mates would have backed Eriksson if he had asked them to walk off in a match that was marred by racist chants aimed at England's black players.
"I would have had no problem with that at all. It's not the players' decision but if the boss had said 'that's it' I would have been happy to come off," Ferdinand told The Sun.
"It's a tough call for the manager, especially when you are losing," added the Manchester United centre-back.
"But I don't think anybody in England or on the England team would have blamed us. The abuse was disgraceful."
