Wayne Rooney will miss the Premier League match against Fulham and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
Wayne Rooney will miss the Premier League match against Fulham and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
Wayne Rooney will miss the Premier League match against Fulham and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
Wayne Rooney will miss the Premier League match against Fulham and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

Sport

Wayne Rooney 'gutted' with ban decision

The Manchester United striker calls the English FA's two-match ban "clearly excessive" that will see him miss the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 16.

Associated Press

April 07, 2011

  • English
  • Arabic

LONDON // The Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney lost his appeal today against a two-match ban for swearing into a television camera, ruling him out of the FA Cup semi-finals against Manchester City.

Rooney said the punishment handed to him was "clearly excessive," but the Football Association's regulatory commission upheld the decision.

"The commission did not accept the claim and Rooney will begin the standard two-match suspension with immediate effect," the said in a FA statement.

The England international will miss Saturday's home game against Fulham in the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-final match against City a week later.

Rooney shouted an expletive directly into the camera on Saturday after scoring a penalty kick, which completed his hat trick as United rallied from 2-0 down to beat West Ham 4-2.

The 25-year-old striker apologised after the game, saying his conduct was "inappropriate." The host broadcaster, Sky Sports, also made an on-air apology to its viewers.

In a statement issued through Ian Monk, his spokesman, Rooney said: “I am gutted to miss two matches, one of which is an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

"I am not the first player to have sworn on TV and I won’t be the last.

"“Unlike others who have been caught swearing on camera, I apologised immediately. And yet I am the only person banned for swearing. That doesn’t seem right.

"Whatever, I have to accept that what’s happened has happened and move on from here. That is what I intend to do.”

Rooney's ban came just as he was starting to rediscover his best form. His goal in United's 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday was his 10th in all competitions since the start of February.

The first half of the season saw Rooney beset with injuries and poor form, while he also had personal problems off the field, stemming from media allegations that he cheated on his then-pregnant wife with a prostitute.

United leads Arsenal by seven points at the top of the Premier League, but the Gunners have a game in hand.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.