The Observer:
Wayne Rooney has issued an extraordinary warning to the FA that he will reduce his role with the England team unless they review their three-match ban imposed for his latest sending-off.
In an unprecedented move, the Manchester United striker has told the FA that he will stop co-operating with their money-making activities around the England team - such as personal appearances for sponsors - unless they rethink the suspension handed down last week for the red card he received for violent conduct in a pre-season friendly.
In a letter to FA chief executive Brian Barwick on Rooney's behalf, the player's agent, Paul Stretford, wrote: 'I am writing on behalf of my client to express his utter dismay at the decision' not to overturn the ban. Rooney 'feels extremely let down by the FA on this matter', added Stretford.
The letter then said: 'While he will continue if selected to play for his country with the pride and commitment, he is considering withdrawing his support for the FA's commercial programme: in other words he will not allow his image to be used or exploited, or participate in personal appearances for and on behalf of the FA's commercial partners, unless he is satisfied with how the FA conducts its affairs in regard to player matters.
'It is our intention to seek further counsel and I will notify you of the final decision shortly.'
In a separate move, Gill has written to Barwick contesting Rooney's ban. Gill claims that it is inconsistent to punish Rooney when neither Liverpool's Neil Mellor, who was sent off against Galatasaray in the Amsterdam tournament in 2003, nor Sheffield United's Ade Akinbiyi, who was sent off against Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands the day after Rooney, received any ban. Gill wants the FA to show consistency and withdraw the three-match suspension. Paul Scholes, who was also sent off against Porto, received the same ban as Rooney.
Rooney quote:
"I'm gutted with that decision.
"I'm extremely disappointed to miss any games over that. It was the wrong decision to send me off.
"I never want to miss a game and certainly not for a harsh decision like that.
"You only have to look at the video to see I only had eyes for the ball."
"Unfortunately football is getting more and more where you cannot touch an opponent.
"You see red cards now that would not even be fouls in years gone by.
"It's disappointing the way it has gone but you have to get on with it. The way I play football will not change. I'm determined. I want to win every ball and every challenge I go into."
The Observer:
The essential difference between Rooney's treatment and that of Gerrard was that the Liverpool player was sent off for two yellow cards and FA regulations do not demand a first-team suspension in such a case. However, Neil Mellor was sent off for violent conduct in the same game and escaped because, unlike this time, the Dutch referee did not send in a report. The blame for inconsistency here might lie mostly with the Dutch, though clearly had the FA been so minded they could have used the precedent to take a more relaxed view about Rooney's dismissal in a friendly. Instead the referee's report was passed to the disciplinary department, which set a train of events in motion.
When United appealed against the red card for violent conduct and the ban that would inevitably follow, a disciplinary committee was set up. McClaren is not fibbing when he says he has no idea who arrived at the decision to uphold the violent conduct charge and confirm a three-match ban, because very few people do know. The disciplinary department prides itself on the anonymity and complete independence of its procedures. All that can safely be said is that the decision to uphold Rooney's suspension for violent conduct, not one that was persuasively supported by the video evidence, would have been arrived at by three or four people. At least one of member of the committee would have been an ex-player or referee, but others might have no involvement at all with the professional game.
Imagine having to explain that to an irate Ferguson. Common sense and unofficial practice around the world demands that the spirit of pre-season friendlies should apply to their disciplinary complications as well. Having a leading player miss three of his club's first four matches because of a reckless moment in a warm-up game is ludicrous. It would not happen in too many other countries. No one is suggesting Rooney is innocent or that rules should be bent to favour big clubs like United, but Fergie was within his rights to expect some sort of compromise.