Wayne Rooney is alleged to have punched Blackburn defender
Michael Gray in the face during an altercation at a Manchester
restaurant last Saturday night.
The incident took place at the Panacea restaurant after Rooney and
fiancee Coleen McLoughlin were approached by Gray.
Three other couples, who are close friends of Rooney, were also in
attendance as the two players exchanged words, before Rooney
allegedly struck the Rovers player, giving the former England
international a black eye.
"Wayne and Coleen were enjoying a night out with three other
couples and were having a quiet dinner when Michael came up to
their table uninvited," said a spokesman for the striker.
"Michael then began making a number of remarks which were offensive
to Coleen and Wayne's other female guests.
"Several times, Wayne asked Michael to leave. It was a brief
incident and as far as Wayne is concerned, he bears no ill-feeling
towards Michael."
With Rooney still serving a club suspension and, having only just
returned from an international ban, further negative press will
disappoint Manchester United.
However, it is believed that, given the provocation, Rooney will
not face any internal action from his club, while it is understood
that Gray has offered a full version of events to his manager Mark
Hughes.
