SAF continues:
"He was just not happy about being substituted and being a Liverpool lad the last thing he'd want to do is insult anyone from Liverpool, especially someone who has had a career like Emlyn Hughes.
"Incidentally, a couple of other England players had already taken their armbands off. It was just unfortunate Wayne took his armband off.
"He's a 19-year-old and he's seen as a saviour. Every time he went into a challenge, the Spaniards surrounded the ref. They wanted him out of the way. They knew he was the main danger.
"In time he will develop, and know how to handle these things. It was his first game after Euro 2004. Wayne will settle down and learn. I have no criticism of Sven Goran Eriksson for subbing him.
"The best players in the world learn to look after themselves and how they react, and let their feet do the talking.
"He's an enormous talent. He was the best player and Spain recognise that and that is why they surrounded the ref at every opportunity.
"I have handled a lot of players who have a competitive edge: Mark Hughes, Paul Ince, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Roy Keane, and from time to time, their frustrations get the better of them."
Carlos Queiroz:.
"Every time we play we learn, and I am sure the lessons from Wednesday night are not only for Rooney - they are for the whole England team," he insisted.
"The tackles were not only from Rooney. Some other players have problems with some other ugly tackles, worse than Rooney.
"What I can't accept is that once again it seems like a player from Man United becomes the bad guy and the others the nice guys, just because we don't talk about what happened with the others.
"It happened three few weeks ago when we played Arsenal. Ruud became the bad guy and all the others seem to become the nice guys."
Gary Neville:
"Wayne has now been booked twice in 20 games for England, so why do people feel the need to start talking about his temperament."
Dave Beckham:
"People have got to realise is that Wayne is only 19.
"He looks like a man, and holds himself like a man, but sometimes things like that happen when he is so young.
"It's not about cutting it out of his game completely because that is part of his game and that's what makes him a great player and loved by so many people.
"But by experience, and with the people he has got around him to help him, he will calm it down as he goes on in his career.
"I think a few players - including myself - had a word with him on the pitch towards the end of the first half.
"Wayne will learn for himself. But it is not going to change Wayne Rooney as a player because he is still one of the best forwards in the world."
St Michael of Owen:
"I'm sure it was frustration with himself. I'd never label that against him. I'm sure he has got a lot of respect for Emlyn Hughes.
"He must have been frustrated coming off and that's understandable. But I think if you asked him about that, he would say it was nothing to do with that."
The Daily Mail:
England star Wayne Rooney has refused to issue a public apology for his behaviour in Madrid on Wednesday night.
The volatile striker threw the black armband, worn in tribute to former England captain Emlyn Hughes, to the ground when he was substituted after a wild 40 minute display.
Rooney also refused to shake the hand of oncoming substitute Alan Smith and appeared to mouth an expletive in the direction of the England bench.