By DPA,
Rustenburg (South Africa) : England’s star striker Wayne Rooney is going to have to watch his mouth during the World Cup football.
According to British media reports Thursday, the Brazilian referees for England’s opener against the United States Saturday have taken a crash course in English expletives and will not put up with any foul language.
The reports said that referee Carlos Simon and his two assistants had received a list of 20 English curse words and were prepared for any verbal outbursts.
Rooney caused a stir Monday when he was booked in England’s final tune-up match for verbally abusing the South African match official. The official, Jeff Selogilwe, and England coach Fabio Capello emphatically warned the famous hothead later to keep his temper under control.
“He could get sent off in the World Cup,” Selogilwe was quoted as saying. Rooney was sent off at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The referees plan to listen to Rooney carefully during his first match of the tournament. “We’ve got to learn which words the players use. All players curse, we know that,” said Altemir Hausmann, one of Simon’s assistants.