LONDON: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney hit out at two television commentators for saying he deserved to be sent off during his side’s 2-2 draw at Cardiff City on Sunday.
Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler and pundit Graeme Souness, the former Liverpool manager, said Rooney was fortunate not to be shown a red card for kicking Jordon Mutch during the early stages of the Premier League game.
Rooney was instead shown a yellow card by referee Neil Swarbrick and went on to score the opening goal for United and set up their second goal, which was scored by Patrice Evra.
Rooney, who deliberately referred to Souness as ‘Sourness’, said more attention should have been paid to an incident in the second half in which Cardiff midfielder Gary Medel appeared to slap United’s Marouane Fellaini.
“Just watched game back. I agree mine was bad tackle and ref dealt with it. And Martin Tyler didn’t shut up about it all game,” Rooney wrote on his official Twitter account.
“Then someone slaps someone in face and he doesn’t speak a word about it. I like Martin but that’s poor from him.
“Sourness (says) the rules are u kick out u should be off. Souness (says) medel gives left hook he’s done his job. Haha brilliant.”
Responding to tweets from people querying his spelling of Souness’s name, Rooney added: “ ‘Sourness’ was sarcastic, for everyone biting.”
Speaking on Sky Sports 1, Souness had said: “He (Rooney) should be off, there’s no argument. Why the ref has given him a yellow card is beyond me.
“I don’t know what Wayne is thinking of. He’s got an exploding head, we know that. That’s just borne out of frustration.”
However, Cardiff manager Malky Mackay said he had no qualms with Swarbrick’s handling of the incident and United manager David Moyes said: “I didn’t think it deserved any more than a yellow card.”
Meanwhile, David Moyes and Malky Mackay both believe Swarbrick was right not to send off Rooney during Sunday’s high-octane Premier League clash at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Rooney was shown a yellow card by Swarbrick in the seventh minute of Manchester United’s 2-2 draw in south Wales, after appearing to aim a kick at the Cardiff midfielder Jordon Mutch.
The reaction from the two managers was anything but as damning.
Mackay, who was no shrinking violet during his playing career with Celtic, Norwich, Watford and West Ham, said: “I have looked at it again and some referees might have sent him off.
“However, I thought overall, Neil Swarbrick had a good game and I think he handled it well. I think we saw two teams who were tough and committed and there were some tasty challenges throughout the whole game. But I thought his handling of the game was excellent.”
Moyes said; “I thought Mutch ran across his path and runs down the line of the ball. I think Wayne’s half in motion and I don’t think it is anymore than a booking, that’s for sure.”
Agencies
