Rooney set to escape three-match ban
Wayne Rooney seems almost certain to be spared a three-match ban following his latest red card misery.
Rooney's dismissal, along with that of Paul Scholes, during Friday night's 3-1 win over FC Porto in Amsterdam sparked immediate fears of a suspension that would rule the Manchester United star out of the Premiership opener with Fulham on August 20, plus the following games against Charlton and Watford.
However, while referee Ruud Bossen has yet to say whether he will note Rooney's red card in his official report of the game to the Dutch FA, it seems highly unlikely the Football Association will inflict further punishment on the 20-year-old even if the case gets that far.
Indeed, if precedent is any guide, Bossen will not mention either Rooney's aerial attack on Porto defender Pepe or the woeful tackle by Scholes on Quaresma which saw him dismissed midway through the second half.
Three years ago, when Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Neil Mellor were red carded against Galatasaray in the same tournament, match official Rene Timmink opted not to pursue the matter. There is no reason to suspect the situation should be any different this time around.
Nevertheless, Sir Alex Ferguson knows he now has a problem on his hands, if not necessarily curbing Rooney, so crucial to United's chances of making any impact on Chelsea this term, then in attempting to shield him from wily defenders eager to exploit his fragile temper and referees looking for a 'trophy' dismissal.
The United boss felt elements of both contributed to Friday night's red card, the fourth of Rooney's career, which came just 34 days after he was given his marching orders during England's World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal.
"Players are diving and acting so much now we are almost accepting it, which we should not do," said Ferguson. "The defender made a meal of it, which makes it hard for the referee but he should have done better as well.
"You hope common sense would prevail but that was a ridiculous decision."
