England striker Wayne Rooney said yesterday that he was "bitterly disappointed" with the dismissal at the World Cup quarterfinal against Portugal.

The Manchester United striker, who was dismissed in Saturday's match after stepping on the groin of Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho, added that his stamping did not warrant a red card.

"I remember the incident clearly and have seen it several times since on television. I am of the same opinion now as I was at the time that what happened didn't warrant a red card,"Rooney said in a statement.

"I want to say absolutely categorically that I did not intentionally put my foot down on Ricardo Carvalho. He slid in from behind me and unfortunately ended up in a positioning where my foot was inevitably going to end up as I kept my balance. That's all there was to it.

"If you ask any player -- and indeed almost any fan -- they will tell you that I am straight and honest in the way I play."