Raheem Sterling: Rio Ferdinand criticises Gareth Southgate's reaction to Joe Gomez bust-up

Rio Ferdinand has criticised Gareth Southgate’s decision to drop Raheem Sterling from England’s game against Montenegro after a row with team-mate Joe Gomez.

Sterling will play no part in Thursday’s Euro 2020 qualifier after an altercation with Gomez at St George’s Park on Monday.

The pair clashed during the closing stages of Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

Tensions then spilled over into the next day when they reported to St George’s Park for international duty.

The Football Association confirmed on Monday night that Sterling would play no part against Montenegro due to “a disturbance in a private team area”.

Ferdinand, who made 81 appearances for England during his playing career, questioned Southgate’s decision to drop Sterling in a Facebook post.

“Gareth has handled being England manager brilliantly – up to this point,” the former Manchester United defender said.

“However, I feel this incident could have been handled better. Keep it behind closed doors & deal with it internally surely?!

“Now Raheem is left to defend himself from all of the haters that had had their keyboards turned off due to him becoming a very worthy ambassador for the English game, and rightly so.

“If this was a terrible incident then I would be all for public shaming & discipline. But for this ‘throat grab’ that we are told it’s for, I can’t understand it.”

Both Sterling and Gomez took part in an England training session at St George’s Park on Tuesday morning. Gomez appeared to have a scratch near his his right eye.