ROONEY WILL FACE NO ACTION FROM FAWayne Rooney will face no disciplinary action for his attack on Wigan's James McCarthy at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Television replays clearly showed Rooney swipe McCarthy on the back of his head with an elbow after the midfielder had appeared set to block the Manchester United striker's run.
At the time referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick and, after contacting the official today, the FA have been told the official feels he administered the appropriate action, which leaves the governing body powerless to launch disciplinary proceedings against the 25-year-old England international.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez claimed if Clattenburg had seen the incident properly the offence would have warranted a straight red card, a view endorsed later that evening on Match of the Day by Alan Hansen, who suggested Rooney was "in big trouble".
However, the disciplinary process is complex in the sense that the FA are not allowed by FIFA to take further action on incidents already dealt with by the referee.
In addition, world football's governing body frowns upon the idea that referees could go into a game believing they have a "get-out" of trial by video, as is the case in both codes of rugby, where Rooney would almost certainly have been cited given the severity of the incident.
It meant that Clattenburg would first of all have had to admitted he did not see the incident and then explain exactly what he gave the free-kick for given the striker committed no other offence.
Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt be gratified at knowing his £27million front-man will be available for tomorrow's trip to Chelsea and next weekend's encounter with Liverpool at Anfield, having claimed on Saturday the media would try to "electrocute" Rooney.
But the manner in which this case has been dealt with is bound to bring more calls for the widespread use of video technology.
Such demands reached a crescendo following last summer's World Cup final but so far FIFA president Sepp Blatter, whose organisation would have to give the green light for technology to be used, has been implacably resistant to such calls.
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CLATTENBURG ROONEY VERDICT AWAITEDReferee Mark Clattenburg's explanation of why he awarded Wigan a free-kick following Wayne Rooney's clash with James McCarthy will determine whether the Manchester United striker ends up facing a three-match ban.Latics boss Roberto Martinez was incensed by the sight of Rooney's elbow connecting with the side of McCarthy's head and sought out Clattenburg for an explanation at half-time.
The Durham official told Martinez he felt there had been "a coming together", something he appeared to indicate through hand gestures at the time.
That cut little ice with the Wigan manager, who felt the decision was straightforward, a view endorsed by Match of the Day duo Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson when they analysed the incident.
The only obvious way round this for Clattenburg when he sends in his official match report would be to state he saw the clash, but not the elbow.
Even then, the FA would be within their rights to ask exactly why he gave the free-kick considering, without the elbow incident, McCarthy had moved towards Rooney rather than the other way round.
If Clattenburg says he saw the entire clash fully, Rooney will escape sanction.
If he is charged and appeals, he would be free to play Chelsea on Tuesday, with any possible ban then including the Premier League game against Liverpool, FA Cup tie against either Arsenal or Leyton Orient and league game with Bolton.Sir Alex Ferguson's initial reaction was to steel himself for a media backlash, which duly arrived from Hansen and Lawrenson.
"Every picture tells a story and sometimes you can't defend the indefensible," Lawrenson said.
And Hansen added: "He (Rooney) is in big trouble. You can't argue with the pictures.
"There is some conjecture about whether the referee saw the incident or not. Is he looking at the ball? Categorically, he is not looking at the incident. He is looking at the ball.
"McCarthy takes a step to his left to try and block Wayne. He (Rooney) swings the elbow. He has thrown the elbow, smacked him on the head and should have been off."
Should Clattenburg leave the FA free to launch a charge, which under the new fast-track process could be dealt with before kick-off against Chelsea even if United opt to appeal, United are bound to raise accusations of double standards.
Although
Newcastle's Mike Williamson was charged with violent conduct following a clash with Johan Elmander at St James' Park earlier this season,
there are other instances of players not being hauled over the coals.
Nigel de Jong and Liam Ridgewell - coincidentally for a tackle on McCarthy - both escaped further sanction for bad challenges during 2010, whilst Steven Gerrard got away with flicking a 'V' sign towards Andre Marriner at Wigan last term.
Ferguson ripped into Michael Ballack when the German elbowed Patrice Evra during the 2009 Community Shield at Wembley, but again the incident was not punished further.
The United boss has already suffered in his dealings with Clattenburg, having been handed a £5,000 fine and two-match touchline ban for a half-time outburst at the official at Bolton in 2007, when he felt Kevin Davies had overstepped the mark in a challenge with Evra.
As he left Wigan though, he appeared to be suspicious of the part media reaction might play in Rooney's situation.
"I have had a chance to see it," the Scot said. "There is nothing in it.
"But, what will happen, the question has been asked and because it is Wayne Rooney the press will raise a campaign to get him hung by Tuesday or electrocuted or something like that.
"It is unbelievable. Watch the press. It will be interesting to see it."
Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan was not so aggressive in his views.
However, he believed Clattenburg dealt with the matter at the time.
"I don't know whether there should be a witch hunt," he said. "The referee saw what he saw and he kept the game rolling.
"We can't dispute a referee's decision. He is out there on the field to take charge of the situation."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/02/27/SOCCER_Man_Utd_Rooney.html&BID=312[ 本文被g3rMan在2011-02-28 21:33重新編輯 ]
