The striker was booked by referee Jeff Selogilwe during England's final warm-up match against Platinum Stars, reportedly for swearing at the local official who indicated afterwards that he would have sent Rooney off had the fixture not been a practice match. The episode brought back memories of Rooney's exit from the 2006 World Cup, where he was sent off an hour into England's quarter-final defeat to Portugal for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho. Banks, who was in goal when England won the World Cup in 1966, has warned that the team will pay a heavy price if Rooney fails to keep his cool during this summer's tournament. "Imagine getting sent off for swearing at the referee! That's the most ridiculous thing ever. If that does happen in the World Cup that would be stupid. It would be really silly," said Banks. "This season he has played absolutely fantastically for Manchester United. He really has been outstanding but at the same time I thought, like a lot of people, that he had got over that, that silly 'I have to kick him or chase somebody to kick them' idea. "It's only because it was in a friendly that they let him get away with it yesterday. "The officials won't mess around in this competition. If he does that in the World Cup then he'll get sent off. "If he does that in a big game when we're winning and we get knocked out then that would be an absolute disaster." Banks believes the responsibility must fall on England manager Fabio Capello to put his arm around the 24-year-old and ensure his behaviour does not cause more problems to an England team already troubled by injury worries. "Capello should now remind him about how well he has been playing this season, how difficult it is to mark him and to put him out of the game," said Banks. "He has to remind him that he just has to carry on scoring goals, and not to concentrate on retaliation or anything to do with having a go at referees or linesmen."
