Rooney 'gobsmacked' over red card & "I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano"

[Rud]

http://www.itv.com/news/index_489a6b6b9dd89351542d342ec468f10f.html

Rooney 'gobsmacked' over red card
6.06PM, Mon Jul 3 2006

England striker Wayne Rooney insists he did not deliberately stamp on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final and insists he was "gobsmacked" by the red card he received.

The 20-year-old Manchester United striker has also admitted he was "disappointed" with Old Trafford colleague Cristiano Ronaldo's behaviour during the match but said: "I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano".

Rooney said in a statement: "I want to say absolutely categorically that I did not intentionally put my foot down on Ricardo Carvalho.

"He slid in from behind me and unfortunately ended up in a positioning where my foot was inevitably going to end up as I kept my balance. That's all there was to it.

"When the referee produced the red card I was amazed - gobsmacked. I bear no ill feeling to Cristiano but am disappointed that he chose to get involved.

"I suppose I do though have to remember that on that particular occasion we were not team-mates."

Earlier, Fifa spokesperson Markus Siegler announced that Rooney would be investigated for violent conduct.

But he added that Manchester United's Ronaldo would not be probed over his involvement in the sending-off.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has revealed there is no ill feeling between him and Rooney.

Speaking on the website of the Gestifute agency which represents him, Ronaldo said: "The things that have been said regarding me and my team-mate and friend Rooney are incredible.

"Between me and Rooney, there is absolutely no problem.

"At the end of the game, we sent each other some text messages and also today. Between the two of us everything has been cleared."

[KURUPTION-81]

Good to hear !