I Feared Rooney Red - Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he feared Wayne Rooney would get sent off at Everton last Saturday.

Rooney was taken off after being booked for a foul on Mikel Arteta.

With the Goodison Park crowd baying for blood, Rooney kissed the badge on his Manchester United shirt, inflaming the situation further.

It left Ferguson with little alternative than to substitute Rooney against his former club when his skills were required to win a match which eventually finished level.

The Manchester United boss was unhappy at the decision of referee Alan Wiley to book Rooney but has waited in vain for an apology this week.

But he remains convinced if Rooney had stayed on the field there was a very real chance he would have been dismissed.

"I read in the paper a few weeks ago that Alan Wiley phoned David Moyes to apologise for the penalty kick Everton did not get at Stoke," said Ferguson.

"When you see that booking on Saturday you would think he might lift the phone to apologise as well because it was a ridiculous decision.

"It was unfair and put us under pressure. Wayne is a committed player and he tackles but any more and he would have been sent off.

"The crowd had got to the referee and it was difficult."

The FA decided not to take any further action against Rooney, as had been originally feared, but Ferguson felt they never had a case anyway.

"What damage did he do?" he said. "Look at the abuse he took off the Everton fans last week. It wasn't very nice either but nothing can be done about that." football365.com