Rooney in touch with FA to defend agent's reputation

Rooney, 19, made the unusual step of contacting the FA after Stretford was charged with three breaches of regulations in the dispute over how he came to represent the Manchester United striker. However, the FA has insisted on pursuing the case and faces the possibility of having its disciplinary procedures challenged in the High Court.

The case against Stretford dates back to the collapse of a court case last October, which centred on how he came to represent Rooney, when he was found to have given false statements at Warrington Crown Court. The three men on blackmail charges against Stretford, including the Liverpool boxing promoter John Hyland, were found not guilty and the question of whether Stretford had acted inappropriately was passed to the FA.

Stretford, who also represents Andy Cole and Alan Stubbs and founded the Proactive agency, has objected to the FA's refusal to hear his case in front of an independent commission. It will be heard by three FA councillors: Barry Knight, representative for Kent; Alan Turvey, divisional representative from Hayes FC and Richard Tur, Oxford University representative.

The FA has charged Stretford three times under rules E1D and E3. These include persuading Rooney's parents, Wayne Snr and Jeanette, to allow their son to sign with Proactive even though he was contracted to another agent, Peter McIntosh, failing to register the agreement with the FA and bringing the game into disrepute with witness statements during the case in Warrington Crown Court.

In a statement yesterday, Proactive said the FA was threatening to act as "prosecutor, judge and jury". Should he be found guilty by the FA, Stretford could lose his Fifa football agent's licence.

Proactive added: "It should be stressed again that the charges laid against Mr Stretford are without foundation."

An FA spokesman said: "The FA refutes these claims. We will robustly defend our procedures and are confident that they are fully compliant with all applicable laws."