Rooney dropped from schools team

ENGLAND footballer Wayne Rooney has been banned from coaching youngsters at a schools match because he was not considered a “good role model.”

A leading head teacher later added to the row, saying Rooney was a bad influence on schoolchildren today.

The comments by David Hart followed a decision by football chiefs to drop the 19-year-old as guest of honour at a prominent schoolboys match.

Mr Hart, general secretary of Britain’s National Association of Head Teachers, said Rooney could be “foul-mouthed” but added he was “young” and should not be “written off for good.”

The Professional Footballers’ Association leapt to Rooney’s defence, and chief executive Gordon Taylor said there was much to admire in what the Manchester United star does on and off the pitch.

The latest Rooney row followed a decision by the English Schools Football Association to ban the Young Footballer of the Year from attending an under-13s Coca-Cola Cup semi-final next Monday.

They cited Rooney’s recent tirade of expletives during a crucial Premiership clash against Arsenal, when he was caught on camera shouting the F-word at referee Graham Poll 20 times.

ESFA chief executive John Read said: “That has been seen by millions of children on the TV and there is no excuse for that.

“There is no doubt about his skill as a player but there’s also no doubt about some of his antics on the field and we should explain to children why we don’t like that. The very young ones especially will copy him but somebody has got to make a stand about the current behaviour on the field.”

Rooney’s spokesman Ian Monk said: “We have no comment to make at all.”