Rooney Latest.

[mrbojangles]

Rooney was at the centre of World War Toe[/url]

<deleted>, World War Toe? only in the sun!!

The Daily Mirrir was better.

"Rooturn to Svender" after Rooney had returned to Germany

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/tm_objectid=...-name_page.html

[redrus]

All the Rooney fallout.

From the Mirror:

Sven (prick) Eriksson last night told Sir Alex Ferguson to get stuffed and roared: "I'm an anally retentive tosser but, "I decide when Wayne Rooney plays in the World Cup - not you."

Mirror Sport can reveal the England coach and the Manchester United boss had a furious four-letter exchange on Wednesday when they clashed over whether the striker should rejoin the World Cup squad.

A 25-minute phone call during which Ferguson treated Eriksson to his infamous hair-dryer treatment was followed by a second explosive row between FA chief executive Brian Barwick and David Gill.

Eriksson is now poised to play Rooney in England's third group game against Sweden, a direct challenge to Sir Alex's wishes.

He may even put on Rooney from the start, which would further enrage Ferguson, and to stoke the row even further, Rooney will be stripped and on the bench for England's opening game against Paraguay, even though he will not play.

Eriksson said:

"I'm prepared to listen to everyone and discuss with them about Rooney, but the last say in this story is Rooney's and mine.

"I'm doing this in the best interest of Rooney, the England team, and 40 million England fans. I'm responsible for it.

"The good news is Rooney has no more injury. He is injury free."

David Beckham said:

"Sir Alex is only trying to look after his player and hope he can be fit for next season. But at the end of the day we've a huge competition to play in and Sven wants him fit and playing for us."

Robert Charlton said:

"All I'm bothered about is the lad himself. I want him to play for England and do really well, but not by taking risks. I don't think Wayne is the person to ask, you would have to ask the medical staff.

"If I know Wayne Rooney, he wants it desperately, I don't think it is a decision he should make. I think that's a medical decision. I'll leave it to medical advice and I'll accept that."

redrus

[redrus]

United to sue if Rooney gets injured.

From the Sun:

The FA have told the doctor who saved Wayne Rooney’s World Cup: We’ll pick up the tab if you get sued.

Independent expert Professor Angus Wallace at first refused to give the England star the all-clear as he feared he could be hit with a multi-million pound insurance claim.

He has £5m negligence cover but thought he could be ruined if sued for far more by Manchester United or Rooney or both.

United and England rowed for SEVEN hours over Roo’s fitness and the deadlock was only broken after the FA told Prof Wallace THEY would accept liability.

The fact top orthopaedic surgeon Professor Angus Wallace felt unable to give a finite decision on Rooney’s toe until the FA agreed to indemnify him against liability indicates the lengths England will go to in order to ensure their star player figures in this World Cup.

Wallace even took it upon himself to lecture Rooney on the importance of getting properly fit before he plays and advised him to wear special inner soles to help with his balance.

But Eriksson has taken control and is going full-steam ahead, whatever the medics and Fergie think.

Both sides agreed before the scan that Prof Wallace would act as an independent adjudicator.

But each side then chose to interpret his findings differently. United say Wallace advised Rooney not to play any of the group games and said he must be carefully monitored after that.

But Eriksson and the FA say Prof Wallace agreed the broken metatarsal has completely healed.

They argue Prof Wallace is simply saying he does not think Rooney will be match-fit for the group stages — and question his qualifications to say so.

The fall out from this could run and run.

We all know how much Fergie can bear a grudge.

From the Guardian:

Beyond the World Cup, Rooney will have other concerns. Ferguson, it emerges, wanted the 20-year-old to put club before country and withdraw of his own accord. United's manager expressed his feelings in the strongest possible terms, breaking off from holidaying in the south of France to warn his player of where his priorities should lie. The consequences would be dire if he were to be re-injured, and a deeply aggrieved Ferguson said as much.

[Doc] Wallace also lectured Rooney about the dangers of rushing back and susceptibility to secondary injuries such as hamstring and thigh strains. He was adamant Rooney should wait until the knockout stages and United asked the FA to add its name to a joint statement confirming the striker would be held back. Eriksson refused.

United's stance is that Rooney's foot still needs protection, which is substantiated by the fact he has been instructed to put special insoles - orthotics - in his boots. The club have also cited Eriksson's declaration from the last World Cup that David Beckham had fully recovered from his metatarsal injury. Eriksson subsequently admitted Beckham was only 70% ready.

redrus

Edited June 10, 2006 by redrus

[redrus]

They could sue Sven Goran Eriksson.

The News of the World reports that United may personally sue Sven Goran Eriksson if he [Rooney] is injured at the World Cup.

Manchester United will sue Sven Goran Eriksson personally if Wayne Rooney suffers a World Cup breakdown — even though they have struck a peace deal over the England star.

The News of the World can reveal United were locked in a series of tense negotiations with the FA on Friday.

But United will take legal action if England change their minds and Rooney gets injured again by being plunged into action too swiftly.

A highly-placed source said: "United are satisfied for the time being that Rooney won't be rushed back.

"But they are going to monitor the situation very closely indeed.

"If Sven picks Rooney in the group stages and he gets injured, then United will take legal action against him personally."

Such unprecedented action could land the Swede with a multi-million pound lawsuit after he walks away from the England job at the end of the tournament.

redrus

Edited June 13, 2006 by redrus

[redrus]

ROONEY ROUND UP

Tuesday 13th June 2006

The Guardian:

The Wayne Rooney saga took another twist last night when it emerged that Manchester United believe he will not play against Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday. Sir Alex Ferguson's information is that the striker will be held back, although the United manager is also aware that he may be in for a nasty surprise.

United's medical staff have been in almost daily contact with the Football Association and they have been told that there is no need for a delegation from Old Trafford to travel to Germany yet. Sven-Goran Eriksson has promised that the club doctor Tony Gill and an independent specialist, Prof Angus Wallace of Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre, will be welcomed into England's headquarters as soon as it is believed Rooney may be fit enough to play. As a courtesy the two men will be allowed to provide a second opinion, although Eriksson has also made it clear he will not necessarily go along with their recommendation.

As far as United are concerned, that invitation has not yet been issued and preliminary discussions have been about the possibility of sending representatives to Baden-Baden after Thursday.

Ferguson has taken this to mean Eriksson will not involve Rooney, although it should not be definitively ruled out. Relations between the two managers are at an all-time low and Eriksson in his current mood may think he has nothing to lose. The Swede has shown a new side to his character in the past few weeks and has been giving serious consideration to making Rooney a second-half substitute.

The Sun:

"Don't do a Gazza Wazza"

Wayne Rooney is so pumped up there are fears he will do a Gazza.

Wazza has already clattered into Theo Walcott and Jermaine Jenas at England training.

Now some members of the England camp fear Rooney will injure himself or a team-mate like Paul Gascoigne in the 1991 FA Cup final.

And an England source said: "There are people who think Wayne should be taking a little step backwards and calming down. He is definitely in the exuberant stage and is not holding back at any point.

"But Sven Goran Eriksson doesn’t see a problem with how Wayne’s going about things.

"It is almost as if he is blind to it and it could come back to haunt him."

redrus

[English Noodles]

He will come off the bench to play for a short while towards the end of Thursdays match. TRUST ME.

Edited June 14, 2006 by English Noodles

[dantilley]

Yeah, and bang in a screamer from 25 yards...

[redrus]

'United doctor not going to check on Rooney' as 'FA intervene with Eriksson'.

The Indie:

Manchester United have conceded defeat in their dispute with the Football Association over Wayne Rooney and will not send a doctor to Germany this week to check up on the fitness of the 20-year-old. But Sven Goran Eriksson still has to wait on the decision of his own fitness coach, Ivan Carminati, who does not yet believe that the striker is ready to play against Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow.

There was another 24 hours of intrigue around the England striker yesterday, an issue that was further clouded by an interview with Carminati, who worked with Eriksson when he was a club manager in Italy, in which he suggested that Rooney was not "100 per cent fit". Carminati spoke to an Italian broadcaster and his words contradict a prevailing mood that Rooney is ready to play.

Certainly that is how the player himself feels after he came through a full training session with the England squad yesterday. Now that United have distanced themselves from the dispute the only obstacle to Rooney's involvement, it has been suggested, is the FA chief executive, Brian Barwick, who is eager not to anger the player's club by bringing him back too soon.

However, the pressure not to play Rooney is certainly not coming from United, who have resigned themselves to whatever decision Eriksson chooses to make. After Rooney's 7 June scan, at which Eriksson refused to sign up to a specialist's advice that the player should not play in the group stages, United were offered the "courtesy" of sending a doctor to check on his condition. As they felt that this doctor's advice would be ignored they decided it would not be an option worth taking.

Eriksson's quandary is that he desperately wants Rooney to have had some match time ahead of the knockout phase. If he is relying on Carminati's advice, and Eriksson has already dismissed Professor Angus Wallace's suggestion that the player sit out the group stages, then it will not be until the Sweden game on 20 June that Rooney plays. He is likely to make an appearance as a substitute.

The Sun (with the headline 'Sven does a Roo turn):

Wayne Rooney is at the centre of a row which is set to rule him out of the clash with Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow.

Sven Goran Eriksson is to do a U-turn after originally telling the striker he would be a sub — and Rooney is furious.

The FA fear Manchester United will take legal action if Rooney were to break down in the game as he recovers from his broken metatarsal.

United have not got involved in the argument this week. But manager Alex Ferguson has already made it clear he did not want his star striker to play in any of the group games.

He warned England chief Eriksson that if he ignored him then it would be on the Swede’s head.

Now the bigwigs of Soho Square have clearly intervened.

It is known that FA chief executive Brian Barwick has discussed the situation with his opposite number at United, David Gill, who backed Ferguson’s position.

redrus

Edited June 15, 2006 by redrus

[Nongwahyay]

Yeah, and bang in a screamer from 25 yards...

..............unless he kicks somebody in the goolies beforehand, smacks another in the mouth and tells the ref to FXXX off, before being sent off. That would end the endless discussions about his broken bones..........

[redrus]

Yeah, and bang in a screamer from 25 yards...

..............unless he kicks somebody in the goolies beforehand, smacks another in the mouth and tells the ref to FXXX off, before being sent off. That would end the endless discussions about his broken bones..........

LOL, always a possibility too..........

Lets hope not though eh...

redrus

[OneeyedJohn]

Redrus

whats ur take on this, if i understand correctly the cover up/sham of Rooneys' injury is just to take the media pressure away.?

Surely the English would not be that underhand

England will be better tonite cos its a later kickoff, they won't put a Midd'boro man on for a tyke (i hope thats right, haven't been there for years ), and <deleted> Hargreaves should stay in the dressing room cursing in German, cos thats all he's good for!

[redrus]

Redrus

whats ur take on this, if i understand correctly the cover up/sham of Rooneys' injury is just to take the media pressure away.?

Surely the English would not be that underhand

England will be better tonite cos its a later kickoff, they won't put a Midd'boro man on for a tyke (i hope thats right, haven't been there for years ), and <deleted> Hargreaves should stay in the dressing room cursing in German, cos thats all he's good for!

Firstly, the coverup was supposedly Fergies idea, this will never be proved but, if Wayne plays, then plays on for the rest of the Cup with no adverse reaction questions will have to asked and, hopefully answered.

Fergie would be that underhand, it just remains as to why, being Scottish, he'd do it in the first place.?

The media pressure was definately off WR directly, for a few weeks there anyway. I think it will have helped enourmously, as that pressure created was not there. The world thought he was not going, not going equals no pressure. Suddenly he's riding a bike, apparently the one thing that puts the most pressure on the Mettatarsals....?

England also may well fair no better tonight at all, todays news and papers report the temperature in Nuremburg to be around 28 at 5pm LT. Players blamed the heat for the 2nd half display on Sat, they may use the same excuse........

Owen Hargreaves, he should not be there point blank, full stop. Because of the situation I believe another striker should have been brought in and, he was already with us and stupidly sent home.

redrus

[redrus]

Redrus

whats ur take on this, if i understand correctly the cover up/sham of Rooneys' injury is just to take the media pressure away.?

Surely the English would not be that underhand

England will be better tonite cos its a later kickoff, they won't put a Midd'boro man on for a tyke (i hope thats right, haven't been there for years ), and <deleted> Hargreaves should stay in the dressing room cursing in German, cos thats all he's good for!

Firstly, the coverup was supposedly Fergies idea, this will never be proved but, if Wayne plays, then plays on for the rest of the Cup with no adverse reaction questions will have to asked and, hopefully answered.

Fergie would be that underhand, it just remains as to why, being Scottish, he'd do it in the first place.?

The media pressure was definately off WR directly, for a few weeks there anyway. I think it will have helped enourmously, as that pressure normally created was not there. The world thought he was not going, not going equals no pressure. Suddenly he's riding a bike, apparently the one thing that puts the most pressure on the Mettatarsals....?

England also may well fair no better tonight at all, todays news and papers report the temperature in Nuremburg to be around 28 at 5pm LT. Players blamed the heat for the 2nd half display on Sat, they may use the same excuse........

Owen Hargreaves, he should not be there point blank, full stop. Because of the situation I believe another striker should have been brought in and, he was already with us and stupidly sent home.

redrus

Edited June 15, 2006 by redrus

[mrbojangles]

Owen Hargreaves, he should not be there point blank, full stop. Because of the situation I believe another striker should have been brought in and, he was already with us and stupidly sent home.

Yep, absolutely, categorically 100% agreed

[redrus]

People will talk MrBo............

Guy's, this just in.

ROONEY PASSED FIT

By Matt Barlow, PA Sport Chief Football Writer, Nuremberg

Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to play for England against Trinidad and Tobago this evening by independent medical advisors.

The Manchester United striker was today examined by Angus Wallace and Chris Moran, from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, ahead of the World Cup Group B in Nuremberg.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had already claimed yesterday that Rooney is "match-fit" and ready to return to action after six-and-a-half weeks out with a broken metatarsal.

But, following concerns expressed by the player's club, the Football Association sought the advice of Wallace and Martin - as agreed with United - and Rooney has now been given the green light to play some part in the game.

Eriksson is not expected to name the 20-year-old to start in Nuremberg but is thinking of using him as a substitute.

Sporting Life.

Injured, don't be silly.........

redrus

Edited June 15, 2006 by redrus

[dantilley]

Another bizarre Sven decision I'm afraid...

[redrus]

And from Guardian Unlimited:

Rooney passed fit for England

'It is our professional medical opinion that Wayne Rooney is now available to play in the World Cup'

Carrie Dunn

Thursday June 15, 2006

Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to play for England against Trinidad and Tobago later today.

The striker was examined this morning by Professors Angus Wallace and Chris Moran, from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, hours before the World Cup group game in Nuremberg. The specialists released a joint statement, saying: "It is our professional medical opinion that Wayne Rooney is now available to play in the World Cup.

"Wayne's recovery has been more rapid than expected over the past week, and this is due to the excellent care he has received since suffering the injury to his foot and because Wayne has worked so hard at his recovery. Due to this, we were invited back earlier than anticipated to reassess Wayne by Dr Leif Sward, the England team doctor.

redrus

[mrbojangles]

People will talk MrBo............

Well, we Blues and Reds can agree every 4 years. Back to normal in a couple of months, slagging each other's teams off Can't wait.

Injured my arse.........

How did you do that Red? Sounds painful, you wasn't with DaleyBoy was you

[redrus]

People will talk MrBo............

Well, we Blues and Reds can agree every 4 years. Back to normal in a couple of months, slagging each other's teams off Can't wait. Me neither fella, reckon you're off down this year.........

Injured don't be <deleted>*ckin silly.........

How did you do that Red? Sounds painful, you wasn't with Tera Patrick was you

Don.t know what you're talkin about Joe..............

redrus

Edited June 15, 2006 by redrus

[redrus]

From The Sunday Times:

Sven Goran Eriksson last night said he intended to promote Wayne Rooney to his side’s starting line-up for the World Cup tie against Sweden in Cologne on Tuesday. The England coach plans at least two changes after the laboured 2-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago that ensured progress to the last 16, and the one guaranteed to excite maximum interest will see Rooney play from the start, less than two weeks after Manchester United said he would not be fit to play any part in the tournament’s group games.

It emerged yesterday that Rooney made his World Cup debut in Nuremberg only after he and Eriksson had both insisted on it, forcing Brian Barwick, the FA’s beleaguered chief executive, to back down. Barwick, intimidated by the threat of legal action from United in the event of the £27m man suffering a recurrence of his metatarsal fracture, was against Rooney playing and relented only after a heated exchange with Eriksson, who had promised his potential match-winner a runout as substitute as long ago as last Monday.

When the coach subsequently told Rooney that he might not be allowed to play after all, the striker is said to have exploded with rage, persuading Eriksson to confront Barwick over the issue.

Although he was playing against his club’s wishes, Rooney’s introduction after 58 minutes had such a galvanising effect that Eriksson has now decided he cannot afford to do without him. "We are a better team with Rooney, there’s no doubt about that," he said. "He links the play better than anybody else." If England avoid defeat against Sweden and top Group B, they will be rewarded with more rest between games as the tournament progresses.

redrus

[mrbojangles]

Looks like Rooney's up for it. The new Nike advert.

[redrus]

Strong that init............

redrus

[redrus]

Rooney on warpath after falling for the oldest trick in the book.

Will he never learn? From the Mirror:

Blazing-mad Wayne Rooney tried to burst into Portugal's changing room to get at Cristiano Ronaldo after England's agonising World Cup defeat.

Rooney, 20, was hel_l-bent on a confrontation after his Manchester United teammate appeared to encourage the referee to send him off.

But senior England players warned the emotional striker he would wreck his career if he sparked a mass brawl with the Portuguese team.

They managed to head off the flash point by persuading Rooney to get straight on the England bus at the stadium in Gelsenkirchen. Last night the dejected England squad jetted home after Saturday's penalty shoot-out agony.

The 20-year-old striker had sat in England's dressing room for almost 90 minutes after he was red-carded - working himself into a towering rage over his Manchester United teammates part in the sending off.

And by the time England had lost in the agonising penalty shoot-out he was ready to explode.

But as he started to storm towards Portugal's dressing room he was stopped by teammates who begged him to see sense.

From the Sun:

Furious Wayne Rooney has threatened to “split Cristiano Ronaldo in two” when they next meet. The England striker says the slippery Portuguese winker got him sent off in Saturday’s World Cup clash.

Troubled Rooney, 20, blew his top and branded Man United team-mate Ronaldo, 21, a “pretty boy” in talks with pals. The looming showdown is a major crisis for Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney’s blast at Ronaldo was revealed by a top FA source. The insider said:

"At breakfast in the hotel this morning, Wayne said he would split him in two and smack him in the head. Who can blame him?

"He is determined to settle the score in his own way and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

"Wayne is sure Ronaldo set out to get him sent off — and yet he believed the banter at the beginning of the game was just that. He is now sickened that a team-mate set out to destroy him.

"Wayne knows Fergie will try to convince him to make peace with Ronaldo for the good of United but that won’t wash with him."

I don't know what to think anymore, can't wait for the normality that August will bring....

redrus

[Axel]

Rooney should learn to hit the ball, not the balls. The red card was his and his alone, mistake.

Lampard, Carragher and Gerrard certainly did not help to win, seither with their penalty-skills.

Anyway, why shout now, the game is over. Do more training, there is always a next time. And somebody should teach Rooney about sportsmanship and fair play. Admitting a mistake by the own team is part of that.

[redrus]

It's in the book so it must be true.

In his autobiography, My Story So Far Wayne Rooney says he broke down after being consoled by his England team-mates after being beaten by Portugal in the world Cup. From the Sunday Mail:

"The players came over to me, one by one, said things like: 'Don't worry, Wazza, it wasn't your fault...don't be too upset'", says Rooney. "That was when, for the first time, I felt a few tears come into my eyes. I don't cry often. And I hadn't cried when I'd been sent off. I was beginning to feel sad - this time for them, rather than myself. I didn't feel guilty about what had happened because I still felt innocent. But my sending-off had let them down. Because of me, for whatever reason, they'd been made to struggle on with only 10 men."

Rooney said: "I was disappointed by Ronny (Ronaldo) trying to get me carded and I gave him a bit of a push in the chest (on the pitch). But that was it. By the next morning I was no longer angry over what had happened, or even with Ronny. It seemed that the papers were trying to stir it up, rubbishing him, blaming him.

"They reported that, after the game, while I was still in our dressing room, I had tried to get into the Portuguese dressing room in order to hit Ronny. That's not true. By then, such a thought wasn't even going through my mind.

"What the papers didn't know, and probably will never believe, is that on the coach, on the way home after the game, I sent a text to Ronny. I told him to forget about what happened. I wasn't blaming him for interfering. Then I wished him and Portugal good luck in the semis and hoped they got to the final. And I meant it.

"On the BBC studio panel, Alan Shearer said that when I met up with Ronny again in training, I should 'stick one on him'. I think Alan said that in the heat of the moment. England had just been knocked out and he was choked, as we all were. But I never thought like that, not once it was all over."

Talking about the stamp he goes on: "I honestly thought I was going to be awarded a free-kick. Each of the (Portuguese) defenders had fouled me, so I thought, in trying to get the ball off me.

"By this time, Ronny had run up, though it was nothing to do with him, he hadn't been involved in the incident. He appeared to be telling the ref I should get a card. And then to my amazement the ref was putting his hand up in the air. With a red card. For me. I was off. All I felt was disbelief.

"In being forced back, I had trod on the player on the ground, I realised that. It turned out to be Carvalho. And I was aware that my foot had landed between his legs, which, of course, is about the nastiest place to get hurt, but it was an accident.

"If you think about it, if I'd done it deliberately, if it had been a definite stamp meant to harm him, the fella would still be in hospital to this day. But he was up on his feet in minutes, no worse for wear."

Rooney denies that he has a problem with anger and says that he will not have therapy to curb his frequent red cards. He said: "Another paper said I was going to have anger management therapy. They even named a Manchester woman I had gone to, and was going to see again, so they said. It was all rubbish. I've never seen such a person, and never would.

"Other papers said I was a disgrace, I'd behaved like a thug. Well, that's their opinion. But it's all wrong. Standing on Carvalho was a total accident."

redrus

[redrus]

ROONEY REVEALS HIS FEELINGS FOR MOYES

"Over-bearing" and "a f****** joke."

More from his autobiography My Story So Far, serialised in the Daily Mail:

Stories appeared in Merseyside newspapers which Rooney considered could only have been leaked by the manager and after an angry training ground confrontation, Rooney told Moyes: "I don't want to play for you ever again."

"I would have gone almost anywhere just to get away from David Moyes," said Rooney. "If no-one else had come in I would have gone to Newcastle."

But he says he never felt any jealousy from Everton players. "There was only one person who seemed a bit upset and envious of what was happening to me — and that was Moyes," says Rooney in his autobiography My Story So Far.

"I suppose he expected to get most of the attention himself following a good season when Everton had ended seventh. But when he realised I was getting so much of the limelight I felt he resented it."

When Rooney decided it was time to leave Everton he confided in Moyes that stories in local papers about visits to prostitutes had been getting him down.

He says: "Next day it was in the (Liverpool) Echo. I was absolutely furious as I'd been talking to Moyes in private. In front of all the players, I had a real go at him. 'How did that story get out, except from you?' I raged. 'You're a f****** joke. I don't want to play for you ever again'."

Rooney says that the minute Manchester United made their move "I knew that was the club I wanted to join. But then Everton dropped the bombshell that they would not allow the transfer to go through unless I waived my remaining signing fee.

"I cost them nothing, they got the best part of £30million for me after two years — and they wanted my signing fee."

Other flashpoints included Moyes accusing Rooney of breaking the CD player in his car and making him train on his own — "You've been eating too many f****** McDonalds".

redrus

[redrus]

From Sky Sports;

The Football Association have received Dutch official Ruud Bossen's report regarding the red cards shown to Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes.

The Manchester United duo were sent off during the opening game of the Amsterdam Tournament against Porto last Friday.

Rooney was dismissed for catching Porto defender Pepe in the face with his arm, although the incident appeared to be unintentional.

Former England international Scholes was sent off for felling Ricardo Quaresma from behind, having been booked for an earlier rash challenge.

Both players are staring at Premiership suspensions, but the bans would only come into effect if The FA received Bossen's report on the incidents.

Bossen's comments have now made their way to FA headquarters and a decision will be taken on whether the bans will stand.

Rooney is currently due to serve a three-game suspension, while Scholes will also sit out three games if The FA do not overturn the red cards.

Scholes and Rooney would be available for United's opening game of the season against Fulham, but would then miss the matches against Charlton, Watford and Tottenham.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has pleaded for leniency to be shown to Rooney, although he had no quarrel with Scholes' dismissal.

Rooney has been reported for violent conduct, and Scholes for serious foul play, with The Red Devils having until Friday to appeal against the punishments.

redrus

[redrus]

The Telegraph:

Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes will be free to face Fulham in Manchester United's Premiership opener on Aug 20 due to the failure of the Dutch FA to report the pair's red cards in the Amsterdam Tournament to the Football Association.

Despite both players being dismissed by referee Ruud Bossen for violent conduct during last Friday's friendly match against FC Porto in Amsterdam, the FA had still to be contacted about the dismissals by their Dutch counterparts last night.

But the Dutch FA have confirmed that they will send the reports and they are due to arrive today or tomorrow. Should they arrive tomorrow, the three games covered by a ban would be against Watford, Tottenham and Arsenal. United will be given leave to appeal against the red cards and it is understood their case would be looked on favourably by the FA disciplinary committee.

But the Dutch FA have confirmed that they will send the reports and they are due to arrive today or tomorrow. Should they arrive tomorrow, the three games covered by a ban would be against Watford, Tottenham and Arsenal. United will be given leave to appeal against the red cards and it is understood their case would be looked on favourably by the FA disciplinary committee.

United had been hoping to receive similar treatment to that meted out to Liverpool three years ago. Back then the Dutch authorities did not report the dismissals of Steven Gerrard and Neil Mellor to the FA when they were sent off during the 2003 Amsterdam Tournament.

They were shown red cards against Galatasaray, Gerrard for dissent and Mellor for violent conduct, but neither served a ban because the Dutch failed to take the matter further.

redrus

[redrus]

The FA are reported to be in favour of helping United out.

The Times:

The FA is preparing to help Wayne Rooney to avoid a suspension for violent conduct that threatens to rule him out of three of the first four matches of Manchester United’s Barclays Premiership campaign. The England forward was given an automatic three-match ban last night after being shown a red card against FC Porto in the LG Amsterdam Tournament last Friday.

FA officials confirmed that Rooney and Paul Scholes would be suspended after the match officials’ report, a 23-page document faxed by the Dutch FA, stated that Ruud Bossen, the referee, had sent them off for violent conduct and serious foul play respectively against Porto. With the three-match bans coming into effect 14 days after the receipt of the report, they can play in United’s opening Premiership game, at home to Fulham on Sunday week, but will in theory miss the next three fixtures — away to Charlton Athletic and Watford and at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Scholes is likely to miss all three, with even Sir Alex Ferguson having admitted that the 31-year-old deserved to be sent off for a late challenge on Ricardo Quaresma, but United have indicated to the FA that they will appeal against Rooney’s dismissal after his arm caught Pepe, the Porto defender, in the face. There is a view within Soho Square that the red card was harsh and, although the decision would be referred by the FA’s disciplinary department to an independent three-man disciplinary commission, probably on Tuesday, United have been encouraged in their belief that any appeal would be successful.

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An FA spokesman said: "The club have until the close of business on Friday to submit any claim for wrongful dismissal. This may include video evidence or any other documentation. The case for wrongful dismissal would then be heard by a commission next week."

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From Sky Sports;

Wayne Rooney could miss Manchester United's Premiership opener with Fulham due to injury.

The England star is struggling with a minor groin complaint and Red Devils chief Sir Alex Ferguson feels he may not be ready in time for the clash with The Cottagers next weekend.

"It is going to be a push for Wayne to be fit," said the wily Scot.

"He has a groin injury, which is causing a little bit of bother at the moment.

"It is nothing serious but there is a worry about next Sunday."

Rooney, meanwhile, has set his sights on bringing the Premiership title back to Old Trafford.

Chelsea have called the shots on the domestic front for the last two seasons, but Rooney is ready to upstage Jose Mourinho's star names.

"Chelsea are a great team, a world-class team with a fabulous squad of top players - but United have the players to win back the title and we all believe that," said Rooney.

"It will be difficult, but we will have to stick together, stay injury free and win our games. If we do that we'll give ourselves a great chance."

Rooney is looking to repay Ferguson for the faith he has shown in him by providing the Scot with another Premiership crown.

"I'm not aware this could be the manager's last season, but if it is it will be nice if we can help him win the league," added Rooney. "Personally, though, I think the gaffer still has plenty more years in him and hopefully we can win more trophies under him.

"He's a hard manager, a really tough manager and I wasn't sure what to expect when I came to the club. But he gets on with the players, the players can talk to him and that's a good thing for youngsters like me. That's all you need in a manager, to trust a manager and know you can turn to him if you have any problems.

"Sir Alex is very important to me especially when there are big moments in my life. He calls me and gives his advice on what you should do and he's a big help.

"He is 100 percent behind you and that's nice to know that you have a manager like that who is so supportive and I'd like to thank him a lot for that."

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