Fergie feared Rooney red

United boss admits to withdrawing striker for his own good

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 31st October 2008

Wayne Rooney badge kiss v Everton

Rooney: Highlights his allegiance

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Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he substituted Wayne Rooney because he feared the striker would get sent off against Everton on Saturday.

Rooney was taken off shortly after he was booked for a foul on Mikel Arteta and this gave the home fans the perfect opportunity to vent their anger at their former player.

In response the former Evertonian kissed the badge on his United shirt; an act which was not well received in the stands.

Ultimately Ferguson felt he was left with little option but to take his in-form striker off the pitch before he was sent-off. United ended up drawing the game 1-1 and both Ferguson and Rooney were left frustrated.

The United boss insisted that he did not believe the tackle on Arteta warranted a yellow card and said that he was expecting referee Alan Wiley to offer an apology this week but the call never came.

No apology

He said: "I read in the paper a few weeks ago that Alan Wiley phoned David Moyes to apologise for the penalty kick Everton did not get at Stoke.

"When you see the booking on Saturday you would think he might lift the phone to apologise as well because it was a ridiculous decision.

"It was unfair and put us under pressure. Wayne is a committed player and he tackles but any more and he would have been sent off.

"The crowd had got to the referee and it was difficult."

The FA have decided that they will not take any further action against Rooney and Ferguson stated that they never had a case in the first place.

He said: "What damage did he do? Look at the abuse he took off the Everton fans last week. It wasn't very nice either but nothing can be done about that."

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