Rooney denies Kompany red card claims

Wayne Rooney has taken to Twitter to refute claims he helped get Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany sent off on Sunday.

Kompany received an early straight red card in the FA Cup third round derby match which United won 3-2.

Rooney has been widely praised for his performance which saw him net a brace and silence those in the media who suggested before the match that his future at the club was in doubt.

After the match, however, City boss Roberto Mancini claimed Rooney had also showcased his darker side by waving an imaginary red card at referee Chris Foy after Kompany had lunged in two-footed on Nani.

Taking issue with Mancini’s assessment, Rooney tweeted: “Funny how people think I got Kompany sent off. I’m not ref. I didn’t give red card. But it was a clear red card. Two-footed tackle.”

Foy was also criticised by people suggesting the lack of contact or apparent malice in the challenge did not warrant a straight red card, but Rooney’s team-mate Rio Ferdinand, also posting on Twitter, defended the referee’s decision.

He wrote: “By the way, how can there be any debate about the red card yesterday? You leave the ground with a two-footed tackle = red card. Fact.”