Rooney disputes game ban after accepting FA’s charge

Although Rooney has accepted the FA charge lodged against him for the foul-mouthed rant into a TV camera at Upton Park on Saturday, he has appealed against the two-match ban that is supposed to accompany it.

A three-man panel will assess the merits of United’s submissions and out of respect to the Old Trafford club’s preparations for tonight’s game, will not make their conclusions public. However, they will inform United should the Red Devils request it, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson to decide if Rooney should be told.

“Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has today admitted a charge for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language,” said an FA statement.

“However, Rooney has submitted a claim that the automatic penalty of two games is clearly excessive. A commission will hear the submission tomorrow (Wednesday).

“The charge relates to an incident during his side’s fixture with West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 2 April 2011.”

Ferguson will certainly be pleased to discover the FA’s intended course of action given his refusal to enter into any discussion of the matter in last night’s pre-match press conference, held in the rather unusual surroundings of Lord’s cricket ground.

“I have nothing to say. I am not going to discuss it at all,” he said. “We have submitted our case.”

On the basis Rooney has accepted his guilt, it is believed his argument centres around the swiftness of his apology, which came within hours of the final whistle, and a belief the 25-year-old is being too severely censured for comments that were not directed at anyone in particular.

Though the fact the cameraman had encroached onto the field is of a minor issue, the Professional Footballers’ Association feel a precedent is being set that could leave the FA open to a charge of hypocrisy if they failed to adopt a similarly tough stance in future.

On the PFA’s own website, it was claimed the “unprecedented” charge would set a “dangerous precedent”, with chairman Gordon Taylor adding: “Whilst the use of foul and abusive language is not condoned, there is an acceptance by all parties within the game that ‘industrial language’ is commonly used.

“It becomes an issue when directed towards match officials.

“However, when used in a spontaneous way in celebration or frustration then it is not normally expected to merit a sanction.

“If sanctions are to be imposed in such circumstances then this has to be done in a balanced and consistent manner, and participants made aware of this fundamental change in approach.”

Rio Ferdinand could be back for tonight’s trip to Stamford Bridge. Rafael (hamstring) and Jonny Evans (suspension) definitely return.

Chelsea will be without David Luiz (cup-tied) and Alex (knee).