The Football Association (FA) on Monday charged Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney following his foul-mouthed outburst into a television camera during Saturday’s 4-2 win over West Ham at Upton Park.
“The FA has charged Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language,” an FA statement read. “This charge relates to an incident during his side’s fixture with West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday April 2, 2011.
As Rooney celebrated with United teammates after completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot — United having been 2-0 down earlier — the England star was caught uttering a series of audible expletives towards the camera.
Rooney’s swearing was beamed around the world by Sky Sports with the game televised in more than 200 countries and the incident prompted an on-air apology from the broadcasters.
While the England player said the emotion of giving his side the lead after they trailed 2-0 at half-time had prompted his outburst, the FA took a different view.
Widespread press reports on Sunday had quoted an FA spokesperson as saying: “We will look at it. We obviously don’t condone foul and abusive language.”
The FA director Sir Trevor Brooking had also said the governing body would have to investigate Rooney’s behavior at Upton Park.
APOLOGY
Rooney apologized for his outburst in a statement released by United on Saturday evening.
“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,” he said.
It is not the first time Rooney has been in trouble for ranting into television cameras.
He also upset England fans during last year’s World Cup when he turned to a camera and verbally attacked them for jeering at the end of a 0-0 draw with Algeria in the group stages.
‘SILLY BOY’
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp criticized Rooney for his use of foul language during his celebration.
“Why is he so angry?” Redknapp asked at a news conference in Madrid on Monday ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League match against Real.
“I don’t remember Bobby Charlton doing it when he scored,” he added, referring to the former United and England midfielder, a World Cup winner in 1966. “Why do they have to be so angry with the world these young footballers earning hundreds of thousands pounds a week?”
“I respect him a great deal as a player, but he’s a silly boy and he shouldn’t have done it,” Redknapp said.
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