Source: Daily_Mail
Justice is elbowed to one side to allow for Wayne Rooney as he escapes FA charge
Cleared: Wayne Rooney can play against Chelsea[LNB] The reliability of English football's disciplinary system was called into question again on Monday as Manchester United's Wayne Rooney escaped sanction for what appeared to be a clear elbow in the face of Wigan's James McCarthy at the weekend. [LNB]Rooney is free to play for United against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night and against Liverpool at the weekend after the FA spoke with the weekend's match referee Mark Clattenburg yesterday and decided there was no case to answer. [LNB]Although most neutral observers and media pundits accept that Rooney's arm did make contact with McCarthy early in United's 4-0 win at the DW Stadium, the FA have not charged the England international as referee Clattenburg told them yesterday that he saw the incident at the time and felt awarding a free-kick was sufficient. [LNB]In choosing not to act, the FA are merely following their own rules. These state that video evidence can only be used retrospectively if a referee didn't see an incident or chooses to admit he may have got something wrong. [LNB]In speaking with the FA yesterday morning, it is understood Clattenburg stressed his belief that he had made the right call. [LNB]It has also emerged that the incident was not discussed between Clattenburg and match assessor Mike Reed when the two men spoke immediately after the game. [LNB]The affair has, however, cast the spotlight back on to the FA's disciplinary system. Many people, for example, believe an independent panel should sit every Monday to go through the weekend' s contentious issues, regardless of whether match officials claim to have dealt with them adequately. [LNB] United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will certainly feel vindicated now. He said after Saturday's game that Rooney would be persecuted by the media and was clearly worried the FA would be influenced by what they heard and read. [LNB]But suggestions that United receive special treatment from the FA were dispelled on Monday in figures obtained by Sportsmail relating to the number of charges brought against players by the governing body on video evidence. [LNB]Some people have suggested that United are given preferential treatment by the FA while others seems to feel the Barclays Premier League leaders are persecuted. [LNB]Neither case is true. [LNB] On Tuesday night United go to Stamford Bridge hoping to build on Saturday's win and double the pain of Carling Cup losers Arsenal by stretching their lead at the top of the Premier League table. [LNB]Ryan Giggs is expected to mark the 20-year anniversary of his United debut by returning to the team for a game that will also see him match Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 606 league appearances for United. [LNB]Giggs said: 'When you start out, you never think that 20 years is going to happen, but as it's got closer and closer you think about it a little more. But, yeah, 20 years at this club - I'm really proud. [LNB]'When you've beaten a record or anything like that, there's always some game you've got to concentrate on. 'You've not really got time to think too much about what you've done. There's always the next game and they don't come any bigger than Chelsea.[LNB] Rooney free to face Chelsea as FA confirm no action over elbowIn the line of fire: Ancelotti admits he is angry with Cole over air rifle incidentAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinionAll the latest Man United news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, James McCarthy, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney Places: Liverpool, United Kingdom
