Rooney may go on Sponsor Strike?

Having seen the foul Wayne Rooney got sent off for then I can fully understand his frustration. He went to head the ball and caught the Porto player - completely unintentionaly, when you're jumping like that, you're not looking at the player - only the ball.

So somehow there "secret" FA committee found him guilty of the violent challenge and the three match ban remains.

Now, after taking legal advice, Wayne Rooney is playing this little game with anger and conviction. He's threatening to withdraw the rights of the FA and its sponsors from using his image in any promotional matterial.

"Strong representation has been made to the FA regarding the imposition of this three-match ban, which Wayne Rooney feels strongly is entirely unjustified," a spokesman for Rooney confirmed to PA Sport.

The letter his agent sent to the FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick reads in part:

"While he will continue if selected to play for his country with pride and commitment, he is considering withdrawing his support for the FA's commercial programme: in other words, he will not allow his image to be used or exploited, or participate in personal appearances for and on behalf of the FA's commercial partners unless he is satisfied with how the FA conducts its affairs in regard to player matters."

Rooney has also commented himself, he said that "It seems you can't make a tackle these days, which is a shame, especially when you watch past games and see tackles flying in all over the place ... To get banned, effectively four games because I missed the Ajax match in Amsterdam as well, for getting sent off in a friendly is a big blow."

When you compare the challange Rooney made in that match to the one that Michael Brown made against Ryan Giggs on Sunday where he only got a yellow card, there is in fact no comparison. Inconistency by referee's is something the FA should really focus on.

Even thought Rooney is banned for the next two England games against Andorra and Macedonia it doesn't prove too much of a problem. However, after that it may be very tricky for the FA to placate its sponsors who may big money to be associated with England's stars.

Resources:

• Rooney bemoans domestic ban - ITV
• ROONEY 'DEVASTATED' BY BAN - Sporting Life
• Common sense takes a back seat - Telegraph
• England's main man threatens commercial boycott - Independent
• Fergie: FA did U-turn on Wayne - Electric New Paper
• Rooney FA row continues - Sky Sports
• Rooney 'in strike threat to FA' - BBC Sports
• McClaren sides with United against FA over Rooney - Independent
• Rooney threatens FA over ban - Sunday Times
• Furious Rooney in threat to FA - Guardian Unlimited