Wayne Rooney has spoken out against the increasing trend of half-time player interviews in football, claiming such practices would never have been tolerated under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking on the latest episode of his new BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United and England striker dismissed the idea that footballers can gain anything from mid-match conversations with broadcasters.
His comments followed Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s half-time interview with Sky Sports during last weekend’s Premier League victory over Manchester United.
Rooney, who played under Ferguson for nine years at Old Trafford, said his legendary manager would have reacted strongly to the idea.
“I know how he would have reacted and it wouldn’t have been in a nice way, that’s for sure,” Rooney said. “So there’s no way this would have happened with Alex Ferguson.”
Although Ferguson himself gave brief interviews at half-time during UEFA Champions League games, Rooney stressed the Scot would never have allowed his players to do the same.
“When I signed for DC United, they initially tried to get me to do half-time interviews as a player, which I refused,” he added. “Your focus and mindset should be on the next 45 minutes.”
The 38-year-old insisted that players must remain concentrated on tactics, adjustments, and team performance during the break, rather than entertaining broadcasters. He described the growing practice as “crazy” and detrimental to professionalism.
Alongside his critique of half-time interviews, Rooney also weighed in on La Liga’s controversial approval for Barcelona’s upcoming league match against Villarreal to be staged in Miami. The decision follows similar moves by European football bodies to host domestic competitions abroad, such as the Italian and Spanish Super Cups.
Rooney labelled the move “wrong” and argued that it betrays the loyalty of local fans who follow their teams week in and week out.
“The TV and broadcasters will do everything they can to get as much as they can for the money they’re paying,” he said. “But you’ve got loyal fans who travel all over the country. For them to miss a game or have to pay for flights and hotels abroad just isn’t right.”
The former Manchester United captain insisted domestic league matches should remain in their home countries, warning that staging fixtures abroad risks alienating supporters and undermining football’s roots.
Rooney’s podcast, which airs twice weekly on BBC Sounds, YouTube, and iPlayer, has already drawn attention for its candid insights into football’s changing culture. His latest remarks highlight his belief in protecting both the sanctity of the game and the traditions valued by fans.
By combining strong opinions with first-hand experiences from his illustrious career, Rooney’s new platform looks set to provide regular debates on football’s evolving landscape — but always with a reminder of the standards set under Sir Alex Ferguson.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
