By JOHN BOSCHINI
Wayne Rooney will not face disciplinary action over an elbow he threw against Wigan Athletic and will be available for Manchester United in crucial Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool.
In the ninth minute of United's 4-0 win at the DW Stadium on Saturday, Rooney was seen elbowing James McCarthy in the back of the head. Referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free kick and a warning to Rooney. The FA confirmed that Clattenburg, after seeing a television replay, thinks he administered the correct decision and therefore no retrospective action can be taken.
If Rooney had been charged with violent conduct, the 25-year-old striker would have been received a three-match ban.
Here are some more stories to kick off your Monday:
FC TWENTE TO FACE PROBE OVER FAN ABUSE
Dutch powerhouse FC Twente could face ramifications after its game against AZ Alkmaar was halted due to fan abuse of official Ruud Bossen. The match had to be halted for 15 minutes and the players led off the pitch after fans shouted offensive chants at the referee. Twente now sits three points behind PSV Eindhoven in the race for the Dutch title.
CHELSEA TO INVESTIGATE COLE AIR-GUN INCIDENT
Chelsea has confirmed that it will investigate an incident that supposedly involved Ashley Cole accidentally shooting an intern with an air gun at the club’s training facility. According to The News of the World, the defender was playing with a .22 air gun and was unaware it was loaded. When the gun discharged a lead pellet struck 21-year-old Tom Cowan in the backside and required attention from Chelsea’s medical staff. British police said they would wait to study the newspaper’s report before deciding whether or not they would pursue legal action.
BRAZILIAN LEAGUE, REF FINED FOR MATCH FIXING
One of the ugliest periods in South American soccer drew to a close yesterday when a Brazilian judge ruled that the Brazilian FA and a former referee must pay $96 million in damages after pleading guilty to match fixing. Referee Pereira de Carvalho’s involvement in the scandal led to 11 matches being replayed in the 2005 domestic league. It is not clear how the fine will be divided and the Brazilian FA has confirmed it will appeal the ruling.
SAHA UNHURT AFTER FERRARI CRASH
Everton striker Louis Saha walked away unscathed after crashing his Ferrari late last night in Cheshire, England. The 32-year-old Frenchman lost control of the vehicle and crashed in to a fence but did not need hospital treatment. No other vehicles were involved and police say they are looking into the incident.
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What do you think of today's stories? Should Rooney have been suspended? How harsh a punishment should Twente receive? What about Ashley Cole?
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