FA rebukes Rooney

LONDON (AP):

Wayne Rooney has faced a highly unusual public rebuke from the England leadership over his late-night revelry at the team hotel between matches.

The English Football Association (FA) believes Rooney wasn't living up to his responsibilities as captain of the national team after being pictured on Saturday night bleary-eyed at a wedding reception being staged at the hotel.

Although the 31-year-old striker was off-duty at the time, the FA is unhappy with the conduct of the team's figurehead.

"Obviously, it's disappointing," FA Chief Executive Martin Glenn said Thursday outside a meeting of Premier League team executives in London.

"I think it's appropriate that he apologised because it doesn't set a great tone for the England captain."

England, Scotland face FIFA probe

ZURICH (AP):

FIFA says it opened disciplinary cases against England and Scotland after players from both teams wore armbands with poppy emblems at a World Cup qualifying match.

FIFA did not specify details of the cases, nor would it "speculate on any outcome or provide an estimated timeline".

The laws of football prohibit religious, political or personal statements at national team matches.

The English and Scottish federations said before the November 11 match at Wembley Stadium, they were prepared to face the consequences of defying FIFA rules.

Both federations face being fined.

 

Premier League may allow standing

LONDON (AP):

The Premier League will assess the safety and viability of allowing fans to stand at games.

It would require a change to the law mandating all-seater stadiums that was introduced after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death in an overcrowded standing area of the stadium in Sheffield.

So-called 'safe-standing' has been introduced in Scotland where seats can be flipped up and locked in place, providing space to stand behind a waist-high rail.

The Premier League was asked by its clubs at a meeting yesterday to explore safety, technical and legal issues around safe-standing.

West Ham co-owner David Gold says it's a "difficult subject" and there's "so much to be done".

But Gold added that "we probably took the first step" toward safe-standing.