Wayne Rooney fury at FA ban

Posted Saturday, April 09, 2011 by Express.co.uk

WAYNE Rooney was in denial last night following the FA’s rubber-stamping of his two-game ban – even though a police chief said such an aggressive F-word outburst on the streets warranted a spell in the cells.

Rooney is furious that the FA dismissed his appeal against the ban for his swearing rant at Upton Park last Saturday, which means he must sit out Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final against City at Wembley a week tomorrow.

“I’m gutted to miss two matches, one of which is an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley,” he said. “I’m not the first player to have sworn on TV and I won’t be the last. Unlike others who have been caught swearing on camera, I apologised immediately. And yet I am the only person banned for swearing. That doesn’t seem right.”

But Superintendent Mark Payne, who is responsible for managing crime response in Wolverhampton, said that anyone showing such “ridiculous aggression” on a night out would have been thrown in the cells.

“If Rooney had behaved like that in Wolverhampton on a Saturday night, I would have expected my officers to lock him up,” said Supt Payne.

“People in positions of influence have an obligation to behave like human beings. It is not a lot to ask.”

The senior officer with the UK’s second-largest force added that while

Rooney had “offered some form of apology, what he won’t be able to do is alter the impression that he has left in the eyes of the watching youngsters”.

“They will believe it is OK to insult and abuse; it is OK to react with ridiculous aggression to perceived slights or provocation; it is excusable because it is the heat of the moment.”

But in a statement, United expressed their disappointment with the FA’s decision not to reduce the suspension.

“Manchester United are clearly very disappointed with the Regulatory Commission’s decision,” it read. “The club put forward a very strong case to have the punishment reduced.

“Wayne Rooney apologised immediately after the match and the club now wishes to move on.”

Rooney, who will also miss United’s Premier League game against Fulham tomorrow, vowed to put the matter behind him. “I have to accept that what has happened has happened and move on from here,” he said. “That’s what I intend to do.”

Roberto Mancini, manager of semi-final rivals and Manchester neighbours City, can rest easy that Rooney will not now figure at Wembley.

“Rooney is a strong striker and is important for them,” he said. “At this moment he is not 100 per cent – he is 200 per cent. We know he can change a game at any moment, as he did when we played at Old Trafford [in February].

“That day we deserved to draw or to win – and Rooney scored a fantastic goal. But even without him they are a strong team.

“I still think it will be a very good game without Rooney. But what is important is the team, not just one player.”

On Wednesday, Coca-Cola announced they had axed Rooney’s £600,000-a-year advertising contract amid fears over their image.