Source: Daily_Mail
Patrick Collins: Wayne Rooney's foul-mouthed tirade makes an instant mockery of new Respect campaign
In the space of a single wild-eyed, foulmouthed, slack-jawed eruption, Wayne Rooney blew English football's brave new Respect agenda out of the water.[LNB]With a sadly familiar combination of arrogance and ignorance, Rooney bawled the F-word into a camera just seconds after scoring the penalty which completed his hat-trick and sent Manchester United towards improbable victory at Upton Park.[LNB]And then, in case anybody had missed it, he repeated the offence moments later; eyes blazing, face twisted into a charmless snarl.[LNB] Enlarge Respect? Rooney's foulmouthed rant came just days after the new campaign was launched[LNB]The outburst came in the first major match after the football authorities had publicly recognised the need for a radical improvement in the behaviour of their players. Just two days after Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, had promised a 'crackdown' on unacceptable behaviour and had spoken of 'raising the bar'. [LNB]Those well-meaning platitudes seemed more empty than ever in east London. If anybody was going to reveal the ugliest face of the beautiful game, then Rooney was always a leading candidate. But nobody was expecting it quite so soon, and certainly nobody could have anticipated such uncontrollable anger in the midst of his most successful performance of the season.[LNB]It is impossible to know what passes through Rooney's head at such moments. Clearly, the furore which followed his disparaging remarks about England fans in the aftermath of the wretched World Cup display against Algeria left no mark on the player.[LNB]He conforms to every squalid stereotype, being massively rewarded, wilfully irresponsible, treating praise as his due and being affronted by the notion of criticism or blame. Not that he was in too much danger of either at Upton Park. [LNB]Sky, quite properly, apologised for Rooney's language soon after it was broadcast. They did not request a similar apology from Rooney himself when he was interviewed immediately after the match. [LNB]Sky football is the place where egos are stroked, the brand is promoted and nobody is offended. [LNB] Spared: Sir Alex Ferguson wasn't questioned on the Rooney incident after the match[LNB]Certainly not stars of Rooney's reputation. And even more certainly not Sir Alex Ferguson, who was also spared uncomfortable questions about Rooney. Why, one word out of place and he might stop talking to them. So deference reigned.[LNB]While we expect that from Sky, we expected rather more from the BBC. And yet, as the match ended, presenter Mark Chapman asked their man at the match, the former England manager Graham Taylor: 'Do you think that [Rooney's language] will be picked on and blown out of all proportion?' [LNB]It was cringing, obsequious stuff and it quite possibly helps to explain why Rooney feels able to do precisely as he chooses without fear of sanction. We may be sure that United would vigorously oppose any notion of sanction, as would Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City or any of the other 19clubs in the Premier League. [LNB]Respect is splendid as a theory, but when it impinges on their own interests, they tend to see things in a different light.[LNB]And yet, if Rooney is allowed to bellow the sexual oath at a live microphone without repercussion, then nobody in authority will ever be taken seriously again. Television companies may live in fear of asking anything more incisive than 'How pleased were you?' but the people who are charged with running the game should operate to rather more stringent standards.[LNB]So it may be that the FA will be forced to think of some form of punishment, a task they will not welcome but one which may occupy them over the next few days. There will be all manner of fuss. Lawyers will be hired, precedents will be cited and the various propagandists will be out in force. Sir Alex will no doubt be furious. But as for Wayne Rooney, despite his club issuing an apology for him, he probably couldn't give a ...[LNB] Rooney set to escape ban but faces FA charge after foul-mouthed TV rantWest Ham 2 Man Utd 4: Rooney hits three as Reds seal stunning fightback Patrick Collins: Parliament must step in to ensure a crackdown on abuse directed at refereesAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Wayne Rooney, Alex Ferguson, Graham Taylor Places: London, United Kingdom, Algeria
