players who refused to wear the 'kick it out campaign t-shirt

Manchester United coach was left embarrased by Rio Ferdinand refusal to wear a Kick It Out T-shirt.

Sir Alex Ferguson had pledged in the build-up to the match at Old Trafford that Ferdinand would join the rest of the team in supporting the FA's anti-racism campaign. He was left seething at his former captain's public defiance.

‘I’m very disappointed because I said in the press conference that the players would be wearing it,’ said Ferguson. ‘It’s embarrassing for me.

It had the support of the PFA, and every player in the country should have adhered to that from the PFA’s request. We are all wearing the badges and he goes and he lets us down. But we’ll deal with it, don’t worry.’ Ferguson said.

The campaign was compromised by Widespread player protests yesterday as many reacted to what is perceived as the FA's lenient punishment of John Terry for his abuse of Anton Ferdinand last year.

Rio was the sole player in the Manchester United squad not to wear the T-shirt over his tracksuit top as he warmed up alongside Wayne Rooney before their home match with Stoke.

Other players who didn't wear the T-shirt included, Rio's younger brother Anton, Reading striker Jason Roberts and Anton's team mates in Rangers, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Djibril Cisse and Junior Hoilett. Victor Anichebe (centre) and Steven Pienaar (right) were not wearing the shirts either, same with Manchester City's Micah Richards.