There were plenty of contentious decisions during Manchester United’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Preston North End at Deepdale last night- but none have caused a debate like the penalty in the closing stages.
With the match delicately poised 2-1 in United’s favour, captain Wayne Rooney surged forward and threw himself to ground for what seemed to be a stonewall penalty. However, replays showed their was no contact and Rooney had, in fact, dived.
A debate then followed, with Martin Keown adding fuel to the fire by saying it was a dive but was also somehow a definitely penalty, as Twitter users had their say on the game’s talking point.
Rooney ‘dive’ at Preston is a tricky one. When opposing manager says it wasn’t a dive, hard to make a case to suggest it was.
— Mark Ogden (@MOgdenTelegraph) February 17, 2015
Rooney didnt dive to get out of the way of the challenge he did it to win a penalty. Get real people
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) February 16, 2015
Apparently Rooney ‘has to dive’ there. Different rules for English players.
— Chelsea HQ (@Chelsea_HQ) February 16, 2015
Not a dive, the keeper nicked Rooney’s right foot….. Brilliant penalty by Rooney
— One Darren Fletcher (@SemperFiUnited) February 16, 2015
Rooney having to dive to get his first goal of 2015
— The Redmen (@LiamLFCButler) February 16, 2015
That’s a disgraceful dive. Awful from Rooney.
— JG (@Artekkers) February 16, 2015
love how the media will ignore the dive because it’s Rooney, imagine if Costa or hazard or Suarez did that though, media outrage
— ConnorWoolf (@ConnorWoolf) February 16, 2015
Massive dive from Rooney. BBC commentators decide not to call him out on it. Strange that.
— Richard Walker (@rwalkerdotcom) February 16, 2015
10 out of 10 for that dive Rooney….
— Carl Bövis (@CarlBovis_AFC) February 16, 2015
SHOCKING dive from Rooney. Bad form man.
— Jeanette Kwakye (@JNETTEKWAKYE) February 16, 2015
