SOCCER: ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: WAYNE ROONEY and his Manchester United team-mates have expressed outrage about the two-match ban for swearing that will consign the striker to the role of spectator when Alex Ferguson's treble-chasing team take on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley tomorrow week.
Rooney made his feelings clear after the FA confirmed an appeal had been unsuccessful, saying he was “gutted” and arguing that he had been singled out for a punishment “that doesn’t seem right”.
United released a statement saying they were “very disappointed” and, within the club, there is a belief the man who scored the winning goal against Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday has been treated with greater severity than is fair because of his public profile.
Rio Ferdinand led the condemnation of what many at Old Trafford feel is a case of the FA victimising the club – “it doesn’t make sense,” the defender said, while Ryan Giggs, the club’s longest-serving player, spoke of being “bamboozled”, with no precedent to draw upon in his 20 years in the game.
Rooney made it clear he felt the punishment was disproportionate to the crime. “I am gutted to miss two matches, one of which is an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. I am not the first player to have sworn on television 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. Whatever, I have to accept that what’s happened has happened and move on from here. That’s what I intend to do.”
Rooney had accepted his charge of using insulting words but appealed against the severity of a ban that will begin with tomorrow’s game at home to Fulham.
United’s statement said they had put forward “a very strong case to have the punishment reduced” but Rooney’s main line of defence – that he had been wound up by the abuse of West Ham’s fans – made little difference. It also counted against him that the referee, Lee Mason, had informed the FA that, if he had seen and heard what had happened, he would have sent him off.
Rooney has scored eight goals in his last 12 games, although Roberto Mancini, the City manager, is mindful United also have Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez to replace the England international at Wembley. “At this moment Rooney is not playing 100 per cent but 200 per cent,” Mancini said. “He is a strong striker and an important player and we know that Rooney can change a game in a single moment, like when we played them at Old Trafford . . . Manchester United are a strong team and, without Rooney, they are still a strong team.”
Meanwhile, John Terry has told his team-mates he feels it is them against the world after Chelsea were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty towards the end of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to United at Stamford Bridge.
Patrice Evra tackled Ramires in the United area after the Chelsea midfielder had touched the ball away. Yet neither the referee, Alberto Mallenco, nor the extra official positioned behind the goalline, punished the challenge.
“I was saying to the lads afterwards that it’s us versus everyone,” the Chelsea captain said. “Only we can change that on the football field and expect nothing from anyone.”
“On the penalty issue, I think it’s difficult for us and for you guys (the media), because the players want to come out and speak honestly about it. I’ve clearly seen it from 60 yards away; Rami got the first touch.
“The lads watched it on TV after the game. We can’t come out here and speak honestly and it’s a little bit frustrating. Because we can’t speak honestly everyone’s walking on eggshells, fearing a ban before the next game. It’s not the first time it’s happened but anywhere else in the world – Old Trafford, the Nou Camp, the Bernabeu – that’s a penalty.”
Terry denied this perceived ill -fortune may affect the team’s performance. “No, not really – (we have to) stay positive,” he said. “That’s the way I am and that’s the way I want the lads to be and only we can change it. We can say stuff, we can let things get to us. But we need to go there and win on Tuesday.”
Chelsea were the last team to beat United at Old Trafford, when Didier Drogba’s goal last April gave them a 2-1 win in the league, and Terry was quick to remind Ferguson’s side they know how to win there. “We all realise it’s a tough place to go. But they know at the back of their minds we are capable of going there and winning.”
Manager Carlo Ancelotti also criticised Mallenco’s decision not to award the penalty. Yet despite a growing sense the extra official stationed behind each goalline is failing to help the correct decisions to be reached, the experiment will be extended to the Euro 2012 finals.
Guardian Service
