Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney will learn today if he will be punished for his on-pitch outburst at the weekend.
Rooney screamed obscenities directly into a television camera after completing his hat-trick in the 4-2 win at West Ham on Saturday, and later issued a formal apology claiming it was “in the heat of the moment.”
However, the Football Association are looking into the matter and the 25-year-old could become the first player to be sanctioned for an incident like this.
FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking said: “It was a surprise, after scoring a hat-trick, to react that way. It is something we will have to look at.”
Rooney could be punished under a rule about behaviour which states: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”