Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will discover on Monday if he is to be punished by the English Football Association for swearing at a television camera while celebrating his hat-trick goal in the 4-2 win over West Ham.
The England international apologised immediately after Saturday’s match for shouting an expletive directly at the camera after scoring a penalty that put United 3-2 ahead at Upton Park, having been 2-0 down.
However, FA director Trevor Brooking said Sunday that Rooney’s actions are being investigated by the governing body.
“Tomorrow there will be a decision,” Brooking said. “It was a surprise, after scoring a hat trick, to react that way. It is something we will have to look at.”
An on-air apology by host broadcaster Sky Sports on Saturday was quickly followed by one from United, on behalf of Rooney.
“I want to apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my goal celebration, especially any parents or children that were watching,” Rooney said.
“Emotions were running high and, on reflection, my heat-of-the-moment reaction was inappropriate. It was not aimed at anyone in particular.”
Rooney’s hat trick put him on 10 goals in the league, in what has been a poor season by the striker’s high standards because of personal problems and a loss of form in the first half of the campaign.
But he has scored nine goals in all competitions since the start of February, helping United into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the quarter-finals of the Champions League and a lead of seven points in the Premier League.
Rooney attracted negative headlines last year for shouting at a television camera as he walked off the pitch after England’s 0-0 draw with Algeria in the group stages of the World Cup in South Africa.
On that occasion, he didn’t swear.
Instead, he criticised England’s fans for booing the team following a poor display against the north African side.
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