Hart slams ´pathetic´ Rooney dismissal

England goalkeeper Joe Hart has branded Wayne Rooney’s red card against Montenegro as ‘the most pathetic sending-off I’ve seen in my life’.

Rooney was given his marching orders after appearing to kick out at Miodrag Dzudovoic, though Hart believes the Manchester United star was on the wrong end of a poor decision from the referee.

“I saw it all. It was pretty pathetic. It was supposedly a kick but it was pathetic,” Hart said.

“It was the most pathetic sending-off I’ve seen in my life.”

“I feel for Wayne, who is disappointed, because 10 minutes later I saw Danny Welbeck take it on the jaw and nearly have his head knocked off.”

“I was thinking ‘what’s happened there?’ and ‘why is that not a red card?'”

“That’s football and that’s what we have to deal with these days. There was nothing we could have done at the time.”

“We moved on as a team, Welbeck did really well upfront after he came on and did a great job.”

The Three Lions were up against a tough side in the shape of Montenegro but were seemingly in control at 2-0. But they conceded a goal on the stroke of half-time, and then Rooney’s dismissal handed the initiative back to the home side, although England held out for the draw that sent them to next year’s finals.

“We showed true grit and true determination,” Hart said.

“I am so proud to be part of this England team.”

“We are over the moon. Job done. We have got England, as a nation, to a major tournament next summer.”

“We are a good bunch of players, a proud bunch of players. We played for our country knowing we had to get to get to a tournament.”

“It was a difficult atmosphere, but they are a good side and the manager said we got sloppy in the last five minutes.”

“Wazza also got sent off and the whole thing got very difficult and we defended very well.”

The draw was enough for Montenegro to guarantee second spot, meaning they will go into the playoffs.