Preston goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann says
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney apologised
for the way he won a penalty in Monday’s 3-1 FA
Cup win at Deepdale.
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The striker went down in the box after a challenge
from Stuckmann, who appeared to make little or no
contact.
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“Rooney told me: ‘Sorry, it was my chance to get a
penalty. I had to use that’,” Stuckmann told The Sun.
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The England striker scored United’s third from the
spot to secure an FA Cup quarter-final tie at home to
Arsenal.
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The incident split opinion among the BBC pundits
during Monday night’s fifth-round tie at Deepdale.
Rooney was backed by his England manager Roy
Hodgson and former team-mate Phil Neville, who
said the 29-year-old “had to dive to get out of the
way”.
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But former Republic of ireland midfielder Kevin
Kilbane said Rooney could have “hurdled the
challenge” of the German keeper, adding: “It’s still a
dive. I really do think that.”
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Stuckmann, 33, said: “I say it clear: that was no
penalty.
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“I also believe if the situation had happened the other way around, one of our strikers against the United keeper, the ref wouldn’t have given the penalty. I have no doubt about that.”
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Preston boss Simon Grayson defended the referee’s
decision to award the penalty, saying Rooney, 29, did
not dive.
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“I am not saying it wasn’t a penalty. I’m saying there
was no contact,” said Grayson. “It wasn’t a dive. He’s
gone to get out of the way and taken evasive action.”
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