Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has apologised for getting sent off in the win over West Ham United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
England striker Rooney was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Hammers winger Stewart Downing during the 2-1 win over Sam Allardyce’s side and will serve a suspension, missing the club’s next three matches against Everton, West Brom and Chelsea..
And, the former Everton man has apologised to the club’s fans for his outburst, insisting that the referee’s decision was fair.
Speaking to United’s official site, Rooney said: “It was probably the right decision. I saw the West Ham player making a counter-attack and I tried to break up the play, but I just misjudged it.
“I didn’t absolutely volley the lad. I tried to trip him up and, to be fair to him, he got further away from me and that’s why my leg is straighter than it should have been.
“As he pushed the ball away, my leg straightened out and that is obviously why the referee deemed it as a red card.”
Rooney also discussed how he apologised to his fellow team-mates at full-time and was pleased to see them hold on for an important three points.
“Of course I did [apologise]. I think everyone knew [I was in the wrong],” he added.
“It’s always tough against 11 men when you are a man down, especially when they are throwing a lot of balls into the box as West Ham were doing, so I am grateful that we held out.”