NO SCOUSE PROTECTION

Last updated : 30 August 2006 By Ed
From the Torygraph.

Brian Barwick has attempted to build bridges with Manchester United and Wayne Rooney by admitting he understands their frustration at the Football Association's decision to uphold his three-match Premiership ban.

United chief executive David Gill and Rooney's agent Paul Stretford have both written to FA chief executive Barwick expressing their anger at the way an independent disciplinary commission rejected an appeal against the England striker's dismissal in a pre-season friendly in Amsterdam.

Citing fears that Rooney is being targeted unfairly by referees and FA's disciplinary chiefs, Stretford even threatened Barwick that the 20-year-old star would withdraw his support for the FA's sponsors.

Although new England manager Steve McClaren has backed Rooney and United, saying that the decision had made the task of maintaining good relations with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the other big Premiership clubs "more difficult", Barwick has remained silent.

But last night, in an interview with BBC Radio5Live, Barwick said he could understand why United were so disappointed.

"If the referee's report comes into this building from that game then we have to act on it," he said. "Manchester United put an appeal in, our independent disciplinary commission turned down that appeal. I can understand the context of Manchester United's disappointment but we move on."