Manchester United: FA charge Wayne Rooney

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been charged with violent conduct after shoving Bolton's Tal Ben Haim in the face at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

The England star, who faces a three-match ban, has until tomorrow (Australian time) to decide whether or not to appeal.

The case will be heard by a disciplinary commission tomorrow.

Should Rooney be found guilty, he would be suspended for three matches, starting with the New Year's Day trip to Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, Israeli defender Haim, whose exaggerated reaction to the push was branded "a disgrace" by United boss Alex Ferguson, has been charged with improper conduct.

Ferguson viewed a television replay of the incident involving Rooney immediately after Sunday's 2-0 win and claimed "there was nothing in it".

His frustration increased 24 hours later as he believes his striker is becoming the victim of a witch-hunt, claiming Haim should be the man in the dock.

"Because it is Wayne Rooney and because it is Manchester United, the emphasis is taken off the Bolton player completely," said the United boss.

"That is sad because it is obvious to everybody what he did. He laid down there for about two minutes rolling around, which is absolutely disgraceful as far as I am concerned and should be more of a concern for football in general than talking about Wayne Rooney."

A suspension for Rooney could deal a major blow to United's Premiership title push with the Old Trafford giants already nine points behind leaders Chelsea.

With Louis Saha sidelined until the middle of next month at the earliest with a knee problem and Ruud van Nistelrooy out for even longer as he nurses an Achilles injury, the Red Devils chief can ill afford to be denied the services of another striker.

United officials are not likely to decide whether to contest the charge until later today, although given the nature of the offence and the FA's strict interpretation of it, a guilty plea is possible despite Ferguson's reservations.

Apart from Saturday's key trip to the Riverside, such a move would also force Rooney to miss the home encounter with Tottenham on January 4, plus the FA Cup tie with non-league Exeter five days later, although the 19-year-old was unlikely to be involved in that game anyway.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was honest enough to admit his player had gone down "too easily" and, with the FA eager to clamp down on the diving culture which seems to have crept into the English game, Haim is likely to find himself on the end of a suspension as well.

Associated Press

well, hes accepted the 3 match ban

After reviewing video evidence of the first half clash, The FA charged Rooney with violent conduct, while Ben Haim was charged with improper conduct for his reaction to the shove.

Rather than contest the charge, Rooney has taken his punishment on the chin and admitted the rap for violent conduct.

He will now miss The Red Devils' next three games, starting with the Premiership trip to Middlesbrough on New Year's Day.

ferige aint happy about this, he just dont understand the rules

"The violent conduct charge bemuses me because every man and his dog would agree it was not violent conduct," complained Ferguson.

"If it is violent conduct, why are they charging Ben Haim? I can't understand it.

"He is being charged so they, therefore, believe he is guilty of diving and bringing the game into disrepute.

"It was no more than a push in the face; there was no swing of the arm or anything like that.

"The system is completely flawed. The problem for us now is we can't really appeal because we are not allowed to be represented. It is a closed section.

"So, therefore, they are telling you: 'Don't bother appealing, you are not going to win anyway'. As we are approaching 2005, that seems to be unfair and immoral."

stink

[Edited on 12/30/04 by rynaldo82]

To be honest i didn't think it was that bad, ok he raised his hand and deserved to be sent off. But he hardly touched him and the player went down like he had been hit with a baseball bat...

Ben Haim was acting up to get him sent off and maybe they should punish him aswell...

3 match ban was definatly too harsh...

i still havent seen it to be honest, but i gues rooney reacted again? he gotta get that under control.