Football World Cup: Training ground rows normal - Rio.

Byline: MARK BRADLEY 

RIO FERDINAND has admitted England players could become involved in the same sort of training ground bust-up as World Cup opponents Sweden.

Ferdinand believes that the flare-up between Arsenal's Fredrik Ljungberg and Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg is a ``negative'' for England's opening group opponents.

However, after experiencing a similar incident between Eyal Berkovic and John Hartson while at West Ham, he insists it is simply part and parcel of the game as tempers do flare between players.

England coach SvenGoran Eriksson also accepts it is simply a ``normal'' potential by-product of players spending so long together in a squad.

Indeed, Ferdinand joked the England squad's reaction to hearing of the latest news from the Sweden camp was ``we thought it was blinding''!

However, he then added: ``Seriously, it's unfortunate for them that it got out in public that they were fighting.

``It's a negative for them although I don't really look into things like that as it can go either one of two ways - it can have a big effect on the squad or it can mean they are really psyched for the tournament.''

Asked if he could envisage such a bust-up ever happening with England, he replied: ``Tempers flare in training. Even if your 10 best mates are out there, you used to have it when you were kids if it wasn't going your way and the referee was doing the wrong things and getting on your nerves.

``Tempers do flare. You get a few dodgy tackles going in and sometimes it goes over the top. But that's football - that's the way it is.

``So you can't really say that we would never do that as you never know. Then again, Martin Keown has still got his moulds on in training rather than his studs!''

As for the incident in which Hartson kicked Berkovic, he insisted: ``It didn't have a negative effect on the club at all. John apologised straight away so it was gone.''

Eriksson has seen such incidents during his previous managerial spells in Italy and Portugal, although not yet with England.

``I've been a coach for many years and it happens now and then everywhere,'' said the Swede. ``My philosophy is that a training session should never be open. What happens in your home or your dressing-room should not come out.''

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PROBLEMS: Rio Ferdinand feels training ground bust-up like Freddie Ljungberg and Olof Mellberg's (right) are very common