Soccer: Wayne Rooney has admitted he was wrong to swear into a TV camera and claimed he did not "realise" what he had done until after the 4-2 win over West Ham.
After starring in Manchester United's Champions League triumph over Chelsea last night, Rooney must now sit out Saturday's FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City. It is the second - and by far the most high-profile - part of a two-match suspension imposed by the Football Association for an unprompted four-letter reaction to scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 win at West Ham.
Although Rooney has previously made it clear he feels victimised for the punishment, the 25-year-old, who was helping turn round a two-goal deficit into what is likely to become one of the pivotal days in the Premier League title battle, accepts his conduct was unacceptable.
"I didn't realise what I'd done," Rooney told talkSPORT. "It was just emotions. It was a release of scoring the three goals to get us back in the game. As soon as I realised after the game I apologised as soon as I could.
"Of course it was wrong of me to do but I accept my punishment and you just have to move on. Hopefully the boys can pull through for me on Saturday and hopefully get to that FA Cup final."
Rooney has shown no ill-effects from the furore, turning in a couple of outstanding performances as United secured a semi-final slot in Europe's number one competition.
However, he was bewildered at the storm created by a parting of the ways with former sponsors Coca-Cola, which actually took place last year.
"It makes me laugh," he said. "I spoke with Coke towards the end of last season about signing a new deal and with the Olympics coming up they wanted a bit more of my time to do more commercial appearances. I just didn't have the time to do it.
"This all happened at the end of last season so I haven't been with Coca-Cola since 2010 but it's only just come out now. It makes me laugh when people say I have been dropped by them."
With Rooney missing, Dimitar Berbatov seems certain to start up front for United at Wembley. As the Bulgarian consolidated his place as the Premier League's top scorer at the weekend, it is hardly a major blow for Alex Ferguson.
However, it is a frustration given Rooney has returned to the form he was in immediately before he suffered an ankle injury against Bayern Munich last March that was the catalyst for 12 months in the doldrums.
"I am delighted [with my form]," he said. "As everyone clearly knows, it's been a tough season for me but from the turn of the year I have been really pleased with my form. I have started to score goals again.
"I am playing a different position now and I am really enjoying it. I am getting on the ball, getting involved and feel I can dictate the game from the position I am playing."
