Rooney dismissal has more questions than answers
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Mystery surrounded the dismissal of England striker Wayne Rooney in Saturday's quarter-final loss to Portugal with senior FIFA officials unsure why Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo showed him the red card.
He was either sent off just after the hour mark for pushing Manchester United club mate Cristiano Ronaldo or for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho before England lost 3-1 on penalties.
The referee does not have to make public why he sends a player off but must include the reason in his official report which is scrutinised privately by the Referees' Committee.
FIFA officials were surprised by the sending off and said they had not yet been informed of the reason by the referee.
Carvalho's reaction prompted Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo to sprint some 40 metres to the referee, apparently to demand a card against Rooney who pushed him and was sent off.
Television pictures appeared to show Ronaldo winking towards the Portugal bench as Rooney made his way off the pitch.
Ronaldo had feigned to head-butt Rooney seconds before the match kicked off as he walked past his club mate to take up his position on the left wing in what appeared another bad-tempered exchange.
He was either sent off just after the hour mark for pushing Manchester United club mate Cristiano Ronaldo or for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho before England lost 3-1 on penalties.
The referee does not have to make public why he sends a player off but must include the reason in his official report which is scrutinised privately by the Referees' Committee.
FIFA officials were surprised by the sending off and said they had not yet been informed of the reason by the referee.
Carvalho's reaction prompted Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo to sprint some 40 metres to the referee, apparently to demand a card against Rooney who pushed him and was sent off.
Television pictures appeared to show Ronaldo winking towards the Portugal bench as Rooney made his way off the pitch.
Ronaldo had feigned to head-butt Rooney seconds before the match kicked off as he walked past his club mate to take up his position on the left wing in what appeared another bad-tempered exchange.
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