Kenny Dalglish on Rooney's one game let off:

Despite the instant euphoria surrounding any England fan that saw key-man Wayne Rooney's Euro 2012 ban lifted from three to two games, it was hard not to notice what the Liverpool Manager had to say about it and given wherever your loyalities lie - you may of believed - if, only for an instant there was a small element of truth in his words.

Dalglish referred first of all to the FA's decision to even appeal to UEFA, branding it: "a bit strange" when the FA were supposed to be "setting an example" against all such things on a football pitch.

Image courtesy of BBC - Kenny Dalglish branded The FA's
decision to appeal against the Rooney ban: "A bit strange" yesterday.

From this we may sit up and think, 'this is very true', what Rooney did was violently lash-out and was well worthy of the dismissal - when abiding by the rule book. An instant 3 match ban rightly followed, context - in my opinion - should not be taken into account here, if Rooney was petulant enough to step onto that field knowing the Tournament next year was right around the corner and still loose it to the extent of swiping at someone - why shouldn't he face the deserving punishment?

Dalglish of course, has never exactly saw eye-to-eye with Rooney's club manager and mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson, so perhaps this was just a bit 'tounge in cheek' at a United player getting let off the hook - some may believe. The Liverpool boss isn't really interested in the shortening of the ban though, it is clearly that the FA deemed it 'appealable' and went against all moral codes in what looked a sign of 'desperation' to get the main man available for at least a small stint of the upcoming Championships.

The English footballing community as a whole were very dismissive of Wayne after the incident - calling him 'silly' and 'stupid'. Perhaps this was a real positive for not only the footballers around Rooney, as an incentive to not get caught acting maliciously but the children of todays society, the future stars who, would learn from all the negative press Rooney receieved and really believe that it was such a wrong thing & hopefully to the extent that they'd learn at such an early age to cut it out their game.

That is the 'setting an example' I believe Dalglish was relating to - now kids and players alike will take note that with a simple appeal - against the leading organisation in European football - Rooney has got off lightly, so maybe next time such an outrageous thing crosses their mind they may not hold back, but take the belief that with an appeal they may get off 'scott-free' or perhaps even more worryingly the context of their violent act wasn't out of place.

England loyalist or not - it is my strong belief that the Manchester United forward should have accepted what was given to him, learn from it - really learn this time Wayne and not do it again.
Yet here we are, his place available for the final group game of Euro 2012, perhaps a successful run through the tournament - and all will by forgotten. Well... until the next time Rooney explodes.