The Football Association announced today that it has decided to suspend Wayne Rooney for two matches following his expletive laden celebration caught on live television after celebrating the third goal of his vital hat trick against West Ham United at the weekend.
The following is the statement released by the FA at the close of business:
“The FA has today charged Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language relating to an incident during his side’s fixture with West Ham United. Rooney has until 6pm on April 5 to respond to the charge.”
The ban is ultimately unsurprising. I expected the FA to look for a reason to suspend Rooney after it got roasted by the media for failing to ban him for his elbow against Wigan February 26. Then Rooney managed to somehow be caught on camera saying a naughty word and presto! The FA had their makeup suspension opportunity, and they took it with the relish that an out of form striker scores a tap in.
If this is any other player, I doubt it becomes as big of a deal as it has. If this is any other team, I doubt the FA puts their foot down. Other players have committed far graver acts of disrespect on the football pitch and off it, for which they never get suspended. John Terry shagged a teammate’s wife, which was enough for Fabio Capello to strip him of the arm band but he did not receive any suspension from the FA. Steven Gerrard punches a DJ in a club and receives no ban. Gerrard even punches someone on the pitch and receives no sanction. Ashley Cole shoots a visiting fan with an air soft pistol on the Chelsea training ground and was not banned.
Additionally, the idea that now the FA can use technology to dole out punishments to players is bang out of order. It seems with frightening regularity that the FA uses hindsight aided by technology to suspend United players. Rio Ferdinand was punished in such a way after he appeared to punch a Hull City player last season. Video technology was not used against David Luiz when it was apparent to everyone watching the match at Stamford Bridge in March that he deserved to be awarded a second yellow card and be suspended for the next Chelsea match.
The manner in which the Football Association treats United players is worthy of remark not just by we biased United supporters, but also by people who call themselves football fans. But since United were named the most hated corporation, worse than McDonalds, no one else will rise to our defence. I expect that Sir Alex will use this as further motivation for the squad, to instill the message of us against the world. Even the Football Association does not want to see United win silverware this season by suspending Rooney for the FA Cup Semi and holding his appeal (if United do appeal) on Wednesday, the same day that United play Chelsea in the Champions League Quarterfinal.
Wayne Rooney got banned because he’s Wayne Rooney. I do not think England and the FA have forgiven him for not singlehandedly winning his country a World Cup in 2006, failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and losing in such an embarrassing manner to Germany in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup last summer. A player that ought to be treated with reverence if anything as one of the most talented footballers to ever don the England shirt is instead treated horribly by his home country’s governing body.
The hypocrisy of the Football Association is asinine. It is beyond egregious. And it is absolutely beyond being worthy of our respect. I did not write this out of bitterness, but out of respect for the game I love. I cannot stand the idea that a governing body can simply administer ‘justice’ when it sees fit. Maybe it’s the American in me, but I believe ardently in equal application of the law. And far too many times the Football Association has violated it.
What fucking what indeed.
Were you born with one eye?
Well done. You have hit the nail right on its head. Double faced malakes. You have Brooking, a lifelong ex-West Ham player saying how serious swearing is when after living all my life in this country the thing I noticed is that Englishmen use the F word every other word in their conversations. Now West are accusing United’s fans of racism. Excuse us for living, and giving you a thorough thrashing, again. You know it is because Rooney has put the nail on your coffin to relegation for all this.
Rooney didn’t put the nail in our coffin if we go down it won’t be because of this result.
West ham fans are pissed because upson didn’t handball and bidic should have gone. U guys have every ref in ur pocket an u can’t see it.
Yeah u get bad decisions but no where near as bad as teams outside the top four.
Rooney should have been band for longer. Drogba got 7 games for doing the same thing but after the watershed. And ur hard done by?
Go gloat about ur trophies with ur kno nothing man u friends and leave the really football discussions with people who support their local teams
Your right Chris, Westham are poor that is why they will get relegated again.
And as for having every Ref in the country if that was the case we would have beaten you 4nil the penalties would not have been given, don’t blame us for bad refereing just as you have to blame your team for not being capable of holding on to a two goal lead, its not the 1st time its happened and it won’t be the last.
You are a moron, Rooney should not have been banned what so ever and comparing the incident to drogba is stupid as Drogba clearly called the ref and uefa cheats, so please don’t comment on things you clearly didnt watch.
And as for leaving the discussions for real football fans? 95% of your team are foreign, every local talent that you have ever produced has been sold as well as your clubs soul, your own fans rascially abuse your own players? so please never darken anyones door with that nonsense I support my local team!
I ve been to that pit that they call upton park, and the industious language that the fans use is disgusting on a good day, when swearing is banned on a football pitch. that is the day that rooney deserves to be banned until then, it is blatantly a witch hunt on our great club.
@Tappz.
Sorry mate but who the hell are you? You support your team, who obviously never swear being the upright gentlefolk that they are, and keep your cockney nose out of red business.
I wouldn’t say that Rooney is victimized all the time as he is probably the best English striker in the world (I’m sure ill get a lot of stick for that as well but just look at the World Cup, everyone went apeshit at how Rooney, Englands only hope for goals, didn’t score!!) and kids look up to him. He needs to set a good example but a ban for swearing at a camera, that didn’t even need to be there, just tv wanting more people watching and that is exactly why they stir up this controversey!!
The FA have suffered so much criticism over the past few months that they are starved for good press and seek it where ever Rupert Murdoch lets them have it!!
The game does need to be cleaned up, but to say that swearing is to be punished by a two match ban, then its going to be slim pickings for the managers in future.
But hey!! then the young English Talent that Tappz talks about might get a chance? Like Hitzlesperger or Ba or Piquionne?!?!?
This reply has gotten side tracked by small minded petty supporters who use blogs to vent their frustration about their own team.
Rooney should be fined but the ban is ridiculous. You might as well take the passion out of the sport. No more hard tackles, no more intensity and no more last minute nail biters that makes us all love this beautiful game!!
I totally agree with this article. The media didn’t try to hang Carrahger for his tackle on Nani; the head butt on Nasri went unpunished and papers didn’t go on about it;.. but one dive or foul from United and then hell breaks loose. United are far from being a dirty team, yet players from united are banned way more often than those from other teams. The FA only does it to please the media;.. since that is the only ‘organisation’that can criticize them and can’t be banned.
What about the elbow Rooney threw a month ago? Fabio and Anderson are well dirty. Vidic didn’t see red at te weekend or the cup final last year.
U think u’re hard done by? U’re a twat mate try supporting a team outside the top four they get nothing.
What about the last 3 games against Chelsea mate? was the ref in our pocket then? or how about Birmingham’s last minute goal against us eairlier this season which was both offside and handball? You conveniently forget that your 2nd penalty at the weekend should actually have been a freekick. I didn’t hear you complaining about refs in pockets then.
Every United comeback is always credited to the ref being in our pocket. What a load of bollocks
Chris you are small time to us mate, you have proven that by stating you support your local side! It is embarrasing that you resort to such a comment, I myself am from Salford but it makes me no better fan than anyone form across the globe. Manchester United are the biggest supported club in the world and we embrace that as we are not national facists like the dross you serve up down at your shit hole. Keep watching Green Street mate as that is how we see you, hobbits dressing up as Hollies! Muppet
I don’t norm read your dross now i know why rooney is a cock who doesn’t know when he’s well off and has no respect for your club or mine
Yeah Rooney is a cock I wish we had players of Di Canio’s ilk at your club. Wasnt he done for beiong a facist?
You’re a bunch of twats for standing up for this prick. Do one you glory hunting Sussex residing mugs
Cheers Chris, good luck in the championship next season when our Cocknet reds are still watching the premiership! We will see how big your club are in a new stadium as by all accounts you will fill it every week with the great support you have even when your playing Doncaster!
Great Article…haters eat your heart out…Yes, you are haters and we have the data to prove it.
What do you expect from this FA. They did not have the decency to resign after the Qatar affair.
Now they try to please a section of the football fans with their farcical decisions to keep on to their seats.
I suggest to all English Man utd players to retire from International football altogether. Its bollocks anyway. That’ll teach the FA. Screw them like they screw us!
Chris, why do you post on a United blog? Fuck off to your own team.
Your clear hatred for United and your desire to go out of your way to slate United, sums up the general attitude of fans in this country
Essien went in for a two footed lunge against stoke, there was no mention of it..West ham fans racially abuse their own players..Nothing again..Some fools are throwing darts and others are shooting people for fun..But the only one that gets punished is the one who plays for united and for what, for swearing on tv..This is to set an example eh..Fuck off i say..