Footballers like Rooney need to enjoy themselves

Rooney showed no joy at completing his hat-trick

During all the furore of Wayne Rooney's rant at the camera on Saturday against West Ham, the argument for his defence has been that emotions run high after scoring a goal and players sometimes get carried away by the happiness of it all.

But that is missing the point. Scoring a goal should bring unbridled joy.

A hat-trick should be one of the best feelings a player can experience. So why did Rooney look like he'd just swallowed a wasp?

If he had shouted what he did after a bad moment, for instance missing a chance, then it could have been (just about) understandable.

But the fact he did it after scoring shows Rooney is not enjoying his football and is so consumed with anger he can't feel joy.

Rooney's goal had just completed the comeback, putting United 3-2 up

There wasn't even a smile when he scored. Just look into his eyes (above). Are they those of a man overjoyed at just scoring a hat-trick?

He clearly has serious issues and is a deeply troubled man.

He had been instrumental in Man Utd's comeback, but you'd never have guessed it by his reaction.

Sir Alex Ferguson needs to mentor Rooney to sort out his problems

Someone needs to have a serious talk to him, probably Sir Alex Ferguson, to get to the bottom of what is eating him up and try to resolve the situation.

This isn't an isolated incident.

Rooney, in a similar way to Fernando Torres, has rarely smiled on the field of play for months.

These players are in a privleged position - this should be a job they love. But the way some footballers go on you'd think they were doing the most dead-end job on minimum wages.

The warning signs were there just a few weeks ago when Rooney cowardly elbowed Wigan's James McCarthy.

Rooney escaped a ban for his assault-like challenge on James McCarthy

The book should have been thrown at him then, and when it wasn't, someone should have given him a serious dressing down in the club.

Rooney will never learn unless he is punished. That is why the FA's two-match ban handed to him should be accepted.

He has got away with so much in the past that he deserves some punishment. Missing two games - especially the FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City - should truly force Rooney to consider his behaviour on the pitch and become a better role model.

He will learn nothing from a slap on the wrist. He has had plenty of those in the past and they haven't helped.

No doubt United will contest the ban but they should accept it as what he did was inexcusable.

Families are being encouraged to watch football yet possibly the most high-profile player in England is turning them away.

Rooney knew children would be watching yet still screamed his bile into the camera.

He has a duty to be a role model to the next generation of footballers but just seems to forget all responsibilities at times.

Rooney has not learned to control his anger since his days with Everton

The fact is, Rooney has not matured at all since breaking through as a raw 16-year-old at Everton. Working with Ferguson should have done the trick but in truth Rooney is still 'that kid'.

His reputation is at an all-time low and it will take some doing for him to get it back.

He regularly shouts abuse and swears at referees when decisions don't go his way, and now is the perfect time to crack down.

His actions overshadowed a great United comeback and a great performance from himself. Any good he had done with his hat-trick was unravelled the moment he opened his mouth.

High-profile footballers are under intense pressure and scrutiny from the media, there is no part of their life the public doesn't know about.

That must be incredibly hard, but they are so handsomely-paid that they should be able to deal with it and avoid such controversies.

Those who defend Rooney's actions say he was subjected to vile abuse by West Ham fans, but even this is no excuse.

Fans shouldn't abuse players so stongly but players should be able to deal with it.

Rooney, in particular, invites abuse with his actions. Fans see him shouting, moaning and swearing every week, while his personal problems have been splashed all over the tabloids, meaning fans who would love to be in his position just can't relate to him.

He is a world-class player but just needs to show everyone that he is enjoying it, that he does love playing football.

Even United fans must be sick of his childish behaviour now.

Some will never forgive him for the contract dispute and subsequent transfer request earlier in the season, another example of Rooney inviting hatred towards him.

England fans, also, have become sick of his actions.

Rooney questioned England fans' loyalty after they booed their side off against Algeria

The incident where Rooney shouted down the camera in the World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Algeria, criticising the fans, still sticks in their throats. Rooney just doesn't seem to understand that fans are spending their hard-earned money to effectively pay him, and isn't giving anything back to those who have idolised him in the past.

Didier Drogba was also banned a couple of years back for shouting and swearing into a camera, but Rooney's first incident and the Drogba case took place after a frustrating game where their side had either failed to deliver or felt injustice.

There is no excuse for Rooney's outburst at Upton Park because it came at a moment he should have been experiencing a great high. He is out of love with the game and is feeling little love from fans.

There seems nowhere left to turn for Rooney in England.

Perhaps he would benefit from a move to, for instance, Spain, where he could make a fresh start and build new relationships with fans.

He has burnt all his bridges in England and it will take a long time to rebuild them.

The FA should stand strong and uphold the two-match ban, setting an example that football is a game for everyone and is a game to be enjoyed.

Children need to be encouraged to watch and participate in the game in the right way, because if kids see Rooney's actions week-in, week-out, they may copy their hero.

That must not be allowed to happen and Rooney should recognise his role-model status.

Mario Balotelli has angered fans by showing no love of football

Mario Balotelli is in a similar place to Rooney. He is another one who looks like he's just swallowed a razor.

Some of his actions on the pitch are damaging for the game, but above all it is the fact that he seems to hate every second he spends on a football pitch, like he ought to be somewhere else.

Players need to play with a smile on their face to show kids this is a game to be enjoyed.

Football ought to be fun and not a chore, and that is why Rooney's ban is fair.

He has been made an example of and should learn from his actions.

But knowing Rooney, somehow I doubt it.