Wayne Rooney ban - what they said

Friday 14 October 2011 15:53 BST
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Wayne Rooney was yesterday given a three-game suspension by UEFA following his sending-off during England's draw with Montenegro last Friday.

As a result, the Manchester United striker would be ineligible for all three group games of next summer's European Championship finals.

Here, we take a look at some of the reaction from Premier League managers who were asked if they would still take Rooney to Poland and Ukraine next summer.

"I think the three-game ban is a joke. It might be better to leave the boy at home and get a good summer. I'm a Scotsman, so I hope he stays at home! There is no doubting that Wayne shouldn't have done what he did. But I thought they (UEFA) would have near enough let it go" - David Moyes, Rooney's manager at former club Everton, shows his patriotic side.

"He is a great player. The other day he had a bad reaction. I've seen that from Zidane and many great players. It's sometimes a consequence of the immense pressure they are under, everybody expects them always to do something special.

"On the day he knows that he had not a special day because recently he was exceptional in every single game and on the day he was not in such good form and he was frustrated.

"He shouldn't have done it but you cannot have the commitment of Rooney and as well not expect that in one game he can go a little bit overboard. He is a guy who fights in every single game" - Arsene Wenger, whose Arsenal side have so often been on the receiving end of Rooney's brilliance, sticks up for the forward.

"That flash, what he did, is why Wayne Rooney is one of the great players we have seen in this country. For me, 100% you take him. Wayne Rooney is a great player because he has got that little bit of edge about him. All the great players have.

"In one way or another, they are always on the edge, it's what makes them a great player. Let's make no mistake, Wayne Rooney is our great player, he's our total, world-class player" - Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is in no doubt as to whether or not Rooney should travel next summer.

"Fabio Capello has to make a decision now. And if I were England manager I wouldn't start Wayne Rooney in any international from now until the Euro 2012 tournament. But we should definitely still take him to the finals. I was seriously shocked when I heard he'd copped a three-game ban for his kick at Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic.

"It is a painful, painful lesson for Rooney that he cannot do things like that. I have sympathy for him but those are the rules so he must accept it" - Spurs manager Harry Redknapp wrote of his surprise in The Sun, but would still take Rooney on the plane.

"I haven't given it that much thought as to whether it is (harsh) or not. But if it was for violent conduct then it's three matches because that's what my players and Man Utd players get banned for, all of them do, if it is for violent conduct.

"I'm not so sure about the FA appealing because when we appeal to the FA we don't tend to get too much joy. You get one added on more often than not. Let them deal with it. They make the rules, they can apply them" - former Republic of Ireland boss and current Wolves manager Mick McCarthy leaves it up to the Football Association.

"It's not even a question, for me. Of course. He's the best player in the country, the best player in the country who has had, in my opinion, a tough ban imposed on him" - Newcastle's Alan Pardew is in no doubt as to whether or not Rooney should go.

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