Referee backs no-fuss Rooney

UEFA may take a leniant approach to England striker Wayne Rooney, according to the man who sent him off on Friday.

German referee Wolfgang Stark showed the Manchester United striker the red card with 20 minutes left of the Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Montenegro.

But Stark says Rooney’s decision to walk away without protest after being sent off for kicking Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic may work in his favour when UEFA discuss his punishment.

The 25-year-old hitman will miss the Three Lions’ opening game in the European Championship finals, but could potentially miss two additional matches.

“Maybe it will help Rooney the way he acted by accepting my decision without any fuss,” Stark told the Sunday Mirror.

“It was a straight red card. I had no hesitation. Everyone saw what happened and Rooney knew by his reaction. He accepted my decision without dissent and walked straight off the pitch.”

“I will submit my report about the sending-off. After that I will have no more input and it will be up to UEFA to decide what to do.”

Meanwhile, England manager Fabio Capello is not too keen on England playing an international friendly against Spain next month, but insists that the game has to take place.

World and European champions Spain have won all seven of their Euro qualifiers to date to secure an unassailable position at the top of Group I.

Now both teams will lock horns in an international friendly at Wembley in November.

“We need to play them because we played them away and this is the return,” Capello told the Sunday Express.

“It’s in the contract. I would prefer to play against another team. We also have to play Holland. Against Spain it will be interesting.”