Rooney charged for Ben Haim incident
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-30 10:08

Sir Alex Ferguson's worst fears have been realised as the 'witch-hunt' against Wayne Rooney for his attack on Tal Ben Haim left the teenager striker facing a violent conduct charge and the likelihood of a three-match ban.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, seen here in November 2004, was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association after he shoved Bolton's Tal Ben Haim in the face at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. [AFP]

Ferguson is furious at the attention Rooney's ill-advised decision to shove Haim in the face during Manchester United's 2-0 win over Bolton on Sunday has received.

The Old Trafford boss claims the 19-year-old has only been singled out because he is the current golden boy of the English game and plays for the highest-profile club in the land, and that has been allowed to obscure Haim's attempt to get Rooney sent off with his theatrical reaction to the striker's minor attack.

But, having read the report of referee Dermot Gallagher, who failed to spot the incident and arrived on the scene only after Haim had collapsed to the ground holding his face, the Football Association have decided they had no choice other than to step over what appears to be a clear transgression of the rules.

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