Wayne Rooney can expect to discover tomorrow whether he will face disciplinary action for his foul-mouthed hat-trick celebration at Upton Park on Saturday .
The Manchester United forward’s three goals helped his team to a 4-2 victory at West Ham which took them seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. But, after completing his treble, the striker uttered an audible expletive into a television camera as he celebrated.
The English Football Association’s director Trevor Brooking this morning confirmed the governing body will be investigating Rooney’s behaviour.
“Tomorrow there will be a decision,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme. “It was a surprise, after scoring a hat-trick, to react that way. It is something we will have to look at.”
Rooney has already apologised for swearing. His outburst, beamed around the world by Sky Sports, prompted an on-air apology from the broadcasters.
In a statement released by United, Rooney said: “I want to apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my goal celebration, especially any parents or children that were watching.
“Emotions were running high, and on reflection my heat-of-the-moment reaction was inappropriate. It was not aimed at anyone in particular.”
There is recent precedent of disciplinary action against a swearing sportsman, England cricketer Graeme Swann having been fined 10 per cent of his match fee in the World Cup defeat by Bangladesh in Chittagong last month although on that occasion, the player did not direct his words deliberately towards a camera or stump mic.
In football, the disciplinary procedure in such circumstances is less obviously established.
But FA rules state: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”
Rooney upset England fans during last summer’s World Cup when he turned to a television camera and verbally attacked them at the end of the dismal goalless draw with Algeria.
The apparent frustrations of both players and managers are under the spotlight, after Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore launched a campaign to target “unacceptable” criticism of and behaviour towards referees.
Rooney’s boss Alex Ferguson has already had his say on the issue, and today former United defender and Sunderland manager Steve Bruce admitted he is sometimes taken aback by his own behaviour when he sees it on television highlights. “Sometimes on a Saturday night I look at myself and say ‘My God Steve, what are you doing there?’ But you become involved, and the game takes over.
“It is part and parcel of the spectacle. I don’t think it is that bad. If you see players in games abroad, for me that is much worse.”
Bruce believes the best way to keep emotions in check is to allow technology to help referees with tight calls.
“I’m all for technology,” he said. “Week in week out, we keep seeing difficult decisions cost games.”
