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The FA has refused to go on the record on the reasons why Bacary Sagna has been charged for the same offence for which Wayne Rooney was let off.

But MEN Sport has looked into the background of the two separate offences to try to discern why the FA feels they should be treated differently.

Manchester City defender Sagna has this week been charged with misconduct after a post on Instagram, later deleted, seemed to imply that the refereeing of Lee Mason in the Burnley game had made it '10 against 12' following the red card for Fernandinho.

But in 2009, Rooney received a warning about his future conduct after mouthing the words '12 men' at a TV camera as he left the pitch following a defeat by Chelsea, in protest at Martin Atkinson's handling of the game.

City fans have seized on it as a case of United receiving preferential treatment from the FA – which has brought a stromg response from Reds supporters highlighting their own perceived injustices.

And others see it as an example of how England players have often been given more lenient treatment.

But it seems the FA see the two offences as different simply because Rooney's mouthed words came while he was still on the pitch.

The FA claims it is usually more lenient towards on-field issues – although Rooney himself might question that, having been banned for two matches in 2011 for swearing at a TV camera, whilst still on the pitch!

The argument is that Sagna's post came post-match, and so was more calculated – not in, or immediately in the aftermath of, the heat of the battle, in other words.