FERDINAND ACCUSED FOLLOWING MORE TROUBLE

Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand may be quizzed by police after a fan claimed he was hurt in a brawl.

Alex Thomas, 24, alleged he was punched after he tried to take a picture of the footballer, who was 27 yesterday, with his mobile phone.

Greater Manchester police said last night:

“Detectives in Trafford are investigating reports of an assault on a man in the early hours of yesterday morning.

“He was walking home at around 3.15am when he was apparently assaulted by a group of approximately four other men in a car park near Sainsbury's in Altrincham.

“He had bruises to his head and face. An investigation is ongoing but there have been no arrests and no charges.”

A spokesman for Ferdinand said:

“This is not true. We know exactly what happened and Rio was not involved.”

The alleged assault happened after United's 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday. Ferdinand is believed to have been celebrating in the Odyssey bar in Altrincham with other players.

Mr Thomas, a barman, claims he asked to take Ferdinand's picture but the player told him:

“Why can't people like you just f*** off.”

Presumably Rio just wanted the lad to pay £4.50 like all the other mugs: http://www.celebritymessages.com/viewProduct.aspx?id=RFNYEC001

Meanwhile, Rio talks to his favourite paper about England:

“I didn't expect to be dropped by England. But you have to roll your sleeves up and get on with it and prove you are worthy of winning your place back.

“It's something that hurt and it is hard when the manager is naming the team and you are not in it. You don't want that feeling and I don't want to feel it again. It's up to me isn't it? I want to start against Argentina, of course I do.”