Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has managed to avoid the
further three match ban many feared he would be awarded following
his show of petulance at Fulham on Saturday after
being sent off for receiving a second yellow card when he hurled
the ball back at referee Phil Dowd for a free-kick to be taken.
Dowd has confirmed that he wasn't sworn at by Rooney, and there
will therefore be no upgrading of his standard one-match ban for
receiving two yellow cards. The FA will be writing to the player
though to formally warn him over his future conduct after he
punched the corner flag on his way to the tunnel after his sending
off.
"We have clarified with Phil Dowd that there was no abuse from
the player after he was dismissed," an FA spokesman is reported as
saying in The Times.
"In relation to the incident when he punched the corner flag,
the referee did not see that and we have written to Wayne Rooney
reminding him of his responsibilities."
That means that the England international is now set to miss
only United's game with Aston Villa, which takes place at Old
Trafford on April 5.
Paul Scholes was also sent off for United, for deliberate
handball, as Fulham dented the Mancunians' title hopes just a
little by beating them 2-0.