Wayne Rooney has rejected suggestions he flashed an imaginary red card to persuade referee Chris Foy to dismiss Vincent Kompany in Sunday's Manchester derby.
Manchester City captain Kompany was ordered off after just 12 minutes of a pulsating FA Cup third-round tie at the Etihad Stadium, which Manchester United eventually won 3-2.
He committed a two-footed challenge on Nani, and Rooney admits he had his say to Foy over the tackle. But United striker Rooney, named yesterday in the FIFPro World XI at FIFA's Ballon d'Or awards ceremony, told The Sun: "I didn't wave any imaginary card."
He added: "I clearly pointed out, and a few other players did as well, that it was a two-footed tackle. It was down to the ref to send him off.
"As professional footballers, when you leave the ground and go in two-footed we've now been told by the referees it's a red card. Refs come and see us before the season starts. I felt Kompany had done that."
City manager Roberto Mancini said of Foy's dismissal verdict: "It was not a red card. Rooney told him his decision."
Source: PA
