8/7/2019 United Hold Breath as Clattenburg Prepares to Deliver His Verdict on Rooney Elbow

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/united-hold-breath-as-clattenburg-prepares-to-deliver-his-verdict-on-rooney 1/6

United hold breath as Clattenburg prepares

to deliver his verdict on Rooney elbow

Referee Mark Clattenburg's explanation of why he awarded Wigan a free-kick following Wayne Rooney's clash with James McCarthy yesterday willdetermine whether the Manchester United striker ends up facing a three-match ban.

Latics boss Roberto Martinez was incensed by the sight of Rooney smacking

his elbow into the back of McCarthy's head and sought out Clattenburg for anexplanation at half-time.

The Durham official told Martinez he felt there had been 'a coming together',something he appeared to indicate through hand gestures at the time.

8/7/2019 United Hold Breath as Clattenburg Prepares to Deliver His Verdict on Rooney Elbow

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/united-hold-breath-as-clattenburg-prepares-to-deliver-his-verdict-on-rooney 2/6

8/7/2019 United Hold Breath as Clattenburg Prepares to Deliver His Verdict on Rooney Elbow

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/united-hold-breath-as-clattenburg-prepares-to-deliver-his-verdict-on-rooney 3/6

That cut little ice with the Wigan manager, who felt the decision was

straightforward, a view endorsed by Match of the Day duo Alan Hansen and

Mark Lawrenson when they analysed the incident.

The only obvious way round this for Clattenburg when he sends in his officialmatch report would be to state he saw the clash, but not the elbow.

Even then, the FA would be within their rights to ask exactly why he gave thefree-kick considering, without the elbow incident, McCarthy had movedtowards Rooney rather than the other way round.

If Clattenburg says he saw the entire clash fully, Rooney will escape sanction.

If he is charged and appeals, he would be free to play Chelsea on Tuesday,with any possible ban then including the Premier League game againstLiverpool, FA Cup tie against either Arsenal or Leyton Orient and leaguegame with Bolton.

Sir Alex Ferguson's initial reaction was to steel himself for a media backlash,which duly arrived from Hansen and Lawrenson.

'Every picture tells a story and sometimes you can't defend the indefensible,'Lawrenson said.

8/7/2019 United Hold Breath as Clattenburg Prepares to Deliver His Verdict on Rooney Elbow

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/united-hold-breath-as-clattenburg-prepares-to-deliver-his-verdict-on-rooney 4/6

And Hansen added: 'He (Rooney) is in big trouble. You can't argue with the

pictures.

'There is some conjecture about whether the referee saw the incident or not. Is

he looking at the ball? Categorically, he is not looking at the incident. He islooking at the ball.

Who, me? Rooney protests his innocence to referee Mark Clattenburg

'McCarthy takes a step to his left to try and block Wayne. He (Rooney)swings the elbow. He has thrown the elbow, smacked him on the head and

should have been off.'

Should Clattenburg leave the FA free to launch a charge, which under thenew fast-track process could be dealt with before kick-off against Chelseaeven if United opt to appeal, United are bound to raise accusations of doublestandards.

Although Newcastle's Mike Williamson was charged with violent conductfollowing a clash with Johan Elmander at St James' Park earlier this season,there are other instances of players not being hauled over the coals.

8/7/2019 United Hold Breath as Clattenburg Prepares to Deliver His Verdict on Rooney Elbow

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/united-hold-breath-as-clattenburg-prepares-to-deliver-his-verdict-on-rooney 5/6

Nigel de Jong and Liam Ridgewell - coincidentally for a tackle on McCarthy

- both escaped further sanction for bad challenges during 2010, whilst StevenGerrard got away with flicking a 'V' sign towards Andre Marriner at Wigan

last term.

Ferguson ripped into Michael Ballack when the German elbowed PatriceEvra during the 2009 Community Shield at Wembley, but again the incidentwas not punished further.

Trial by TV: Mike Williamson (right) was charged after appearing to headbutt Johan

Elmander 

The United boss has already suffered in his dealings with Clattenburg, havingbeen handed a £5,000 fine and two-match touchline ban for a half-timeoutburst at the official at Bolton in 2007, when he felt Kevin Davies hadoverstepped the mark in a challenge with Evra.

As he left Wigan though, he appeared to be suspicious of the part mediareaction might play in Rooney's situation.

'I have had a chance to see it,' the Scot said. 'There is nothing in it.

'But, what will happen, the question has been asked and because it is Wayne

Rooney the press will raise a campaign to get him hung by Tuesday or electrocuted or something like that.

8/7/2019 United Hold Breath as Clattenburg Prepares to Deliver His Verdict on Rooney Elbow

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/united-hold-breath-as-clattenburg-prepares-to-deliver-his-verdict-on-rooney 6/6

'It is unbelievable. Watch the press. It will be interesting to see it.'

Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan was not so aggressive in his views.However, he believed Clattenburg dealt with the matter at the time.

'I don't know whether there should be a witch hunt,' he said. 'The referee sawwhat he saw and he kept the game rolling.

'We can't dispute a referee's decision. He is out there on the field to takecharge of the situation.'