Wayne Rooney has been hit with a one-match touchline ban and £5,500 fine after a furious outburst in Plymouth’s 2-1 win over Blackburn in September.
The Plymouth boss was given his marching orders after reacting angrily to Blackburn’s equalizer being allowed to stand in the 86th minute. He has admitted three charges of inappropriate conduct.
Plymouth were adamant that an error had been made in the build-up to the match and Rooney apparently said something which upset fourth official Jacob Miles, who informed referee James Linington.
However, Plymouth’s players responded well to the goal and Rooney being sent to the stands. Argyle then scored the winning goal in the seventh minute of extra time.
A statement from the FA said: ‘It was alleged that the manager’s behavior around the 87th minute was inappropriate and/or that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official, which led to his dismissal.
Wayne Rooney has been hit with a one-match touchline ban and a £5,500 fine
He was shown a red card after an angry outburst and making a comment to the fourth official
Rooney was dismissed by referee James Linington after reacting angrily to Blackburn’s equalizer
‘It was further alleged that his conduct following his dismissal was inappropriate and/or violent. It was also alleged that his conduct was inappropriate in returning to the playing field after being dismissed.
‘Wayne Rooney admitted this charge and an independent regulatory commission imposed his sanctions after a hearing. The written reasons for this will be published in due course.”
“I showed my frustration and emotion in what I felt was a free-kick,” Rooney told BBC Radio Devon on Thursday.
‘I think everyone in the stadium bar, the referees, saw that and it boiled over.
“It’s not ideal, but it happens in football and we move on, and I’m glad we got the win in the end.
‘It is of course not ideal, you want to be there, but if you are sent off and I am not allowed in the dug-out, then I have to accept that.’
Former Southampton striker Michael Obafemi had opened the scoring for Plymouth before Joe Rankin-Costello’s looping header brought Blackburn level despite complaints from the home side.
It was then Morgan Whittaker, a £1 million signing from Swansea last summer, who scored the winning goal in extra time.
Plymouth are fourteenth in the Championship and that is a status they can be happy with after Rooney’s appointment in the summer. Argyle only survived on the last day of last season and survived by a point.
A 4-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday to kick off the Championship season had seen the vultures descend on Rooney.
But three wins in their last five, all achieved at Home Park, have allayed concerns and they are just five points away from the play-offs.
Plymouth is the fourth club in Rooney’s managerial career after spells at Derby, DC United and Birmingham.
More to follow.