After being accused of using derogatory language by the Football Association, Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney will miss two games.
When the 25-year-old scored his hat-trick in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over West Ham, he cursed into a pitchside camera.
The England international can file an appeal against the charge until Tuesday at 1800 BST.
He will miss the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City and the league game against Fulham if he accepts it.
Gordon Taylor, the head of the Professional Footballers’ Association, has questioned the FA’s decision.
Taylor made the following statement on the PFA website: “All parties in the game acknowledge that ‘industrial language’ is frequently used, even if the use of vulgar and abusive language is not acceptable.
“It becomes problematic when it’s aimed at match officials. However, it is not typically considered to warrant a reprimand when used impulsively in celebration or displeasure.
“If sanctions are to be imposed in such circumstances then this has to be done in a balanced and consistent manner, and participants made aware of this fundamental change in approach.”
United might try to request that the FA reduce the penalty by half. On Wednesday, there will be a hearing if Rooney contests the charges.
The United star would miss Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Fulham at home if he received a one-match ban, and he would miss the FA Cup semi-final on April 16 at Wembley against Manchester City if he received a two-match suspension.
Following the victory that put United seven points clear of the opposition at the top of the Premier League, Rooney promptly expressed regret for his behaviour.
The 25-year-old helped the Red Devils come back from a 2-0 deficit by scoring three goals in 14 minutes, which was a major factor in the team’s three-point victory.
The striker apologised for any offence that may have been caused by his goal celebration, especially to any parents or children who may have been watching, in a statement that United released on Saturday.
Although my reaction was impulsive and not suitable, I realised that my emotions were running high at the time. It wasn’t directed specifically at anyone.”
Rooney’s conduct were called “disappointing” by John Bramhall, deputy chief executive of the Professional Football Association, but the player accepted responsibility for his actions and quickly apologised.
“Taking into account the highly pressurised situation within the game, it is still an action that wasn’t acceptable and Wayne’s apology confirms that,” Bramhall said on BBC Radio 5 live.
“He has apologised immediately after the game and has clearly realised that they are not the actions you would expect of a player in his position.”
Rio Ferdinand, Rooney’s teammate at United, asked the media on Sunday to be forgiving of Rooney via his Twitter account.
Newspapers and radio, the defence attorney said, “should give Wayne a break,” adding that “he knows what he did was wrong.”
After speaking with Rooney, Ferdinand claimed that the United forward was “sincerely sorry.”
The Football Association’s rules state: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”
