[Locke.]

The England striker yelled “---- off” into a camera as he celebrated completing his hat-trick at Upton Park and, despite issuing a swift public apology for his behaviour through United’s website, the FA was last night facing calls to prove it is serious about improving standards of player behaviour by suspending him.

While the governing body is believed to favour issuing a written reprimand to Rooney, reminding him of his responsibilities, it has privately not ruled out stronger action.

United, for their part, are fearful that the FA could seek to make an example of their talismanic forward by imposing severe sanctions, particularly in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s five-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson.

The Premier League, while not being able to impose its own punishment, is understood to favour a hard-line approach.

Rooney’s fit of pique came just 48 hours after Richard Scudamore, the organisation’s chief executive, had outlined plans for a revamped Respect campaign to begin next season and there is embarrassment at the image portrayed by Rooney in a match beamed to 211 countries.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ntroversy.html


Sounds promising