Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo off the hook
- by Ian Plenderleith @PlenderleithIan, Dec 16, 2008
Rooney escaped punishment from Europe's soccer governing body UEFA after it looked at video evidence of the striker allegedly stamping on Aalborg's Kasper Risgard in a UEFA Champions League group game last week. Risberg claimed Rooney had jumped on his chest and left marks behind, but stressed that the player had apologized afterwards.
"UEFA will not open any disciplinary proceedings against Wayne Rooney," a UEFA spokesman said. United had feared losing Rooney for the round of 16 in late February and early March.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, was exonerated by referee Mike Dean, who did not see him aim a flick of the boot at Tottenham Hotspur's Michael Dawson during Saturday's Premier League 0-0 tie at White Hart Lane.
"We contacted the referee," an FA spokesman said, "who confirmed he didn't see the incident at the time and, having reviewed footage, he has also confirmed he would not have sent the player off for violent conduct had he seen it. On that basis, no further action will be taken."
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson last week accused the media of playing up the Rooney-Risberg clash to the point where UEFA felt obliged to announce it was investigating the incident.
