Pictures emerge of alleged racial divide in youth team set-up of England U-20 team and this has led former Manchester United player, Rio Ferdinand to voice out his mind on the issue of racism in football.
The former England defender wrote in his column for The Sun admitted he was ''shocked'' when he saw the images, which were published by the Daily Mail on Saturday.
Meanwhile, England U-21 boss Gareth Southgate has rejected claims suggesting there is a race divide across the Three Lions Youth teams, however, Ferdinand believes changes have to be made.
''I lay the blame at the feet of the management, who should know how important it is to integrate all the players with each other,'' said Ferdinand.
''For the benefit of the squad, and to be successful everyone has to mix.''
Ferdinand, who was capped 81 times by England during his prestigious career, has suggested a way the Football Association can ''tear down boundaries''.
He added: ''One simple answer would be to put name tags on the dinner tables and then swap them around each day.
Rio Ferdinand was shocked when he saw England Under 20's black and white players eating on different tables
In that way, everyone will get to know everyone else and it tears down any boundaries that may exist.''
Ferdinand admitted that there were divisions in the England senior team when he earned his first call-up in 1997, however they were based on which club you played for rather than race.
''There was the Manchester United table, then there was the Liverpool table. I was the only West Ham player there so you can imagine I felt like a bit of an outsider.''
England U20 manager Aidy Boothroyd, who previously managed Watford in the Barclays Premier League, is yet to comment on the alleged race divide.
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