No charge for Roo or Fergie

10 November 2009 10:50
WAYNE Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson have both escaped punishment from the FA after their Stamford Bridge outbursts - while Darren Fletcher claims United are paying the price for comments made by Arsene Wenger this season. Neither Rooney nor Ferguson will face misconduct charges for their angry reactions to United's controversial 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday. But Rooney has been warned after being caught on camera, appearing to mouth the words "12th man" as he left the pitch. Ferguson criticised referee Martin Atkinson for awarding the free kick that led to John Terry's winning goal and leaves the champions five points adrift of league leaders, Chelsea. It was always unlikely Rooney would be punished for his comments, which were difficult to make out even when replayed. An FA spokesman said: "Wayne Rooney has been warned as to his future conduct following remarks made yesterday." Charges Ferguson faces an FA hearing on Thursday after questioning referee Alan Wiley's fitness last month - but there will be no fresh charges after his comments about Atkinson. Atkinson awarded a free-kick for Fletcher's challenge on Ashley Cole, while Wes Brown appeared to be impeded as Frank Lampard's delivery was headed home by Terry. Ferguson said afterwards: "Clearly, Darren Fletcher's won the ball. Ashley Cole's never been touched and has jumped up in the air and then (Didier) Drogba's pulled Brown to the ground for the goal. "The referee's position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous - he can't see anything. He's got a Chelsea player (Joe Cole) standing right in front of him and he doesn't even move. "It was a bad decision, but there's nothing we can do about it. You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that's the way the players are talking in there, it was a bad one." Fletcher believes United are being punished for Wenger's comments after Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this season. Shame The Frenchman said a penalty won by Rooney was Old Traffordish, while referring to an unidentified United player - largely thought to be Fletcher - who plays only on the pitch to make repeated fouls. Fletcher said: It was clearly not a foul. I knew at the time and I have watched it again. I back-heeled the ball, Cole jumped up in the air and the referee gave a foul. I think we are starting to see Mr Wenger's comments starting to influence referees, which is a shame, really. Now we have to raise our game and ensure these decisions are not affecting the game.[LNB]

Source: Manchester_EveningNews