Rooney was sent-off after hurling the ball in the direction of referee Dowd.
Crerand said: “We have a situation in England at the moment where we have the worst referees God ever created. The Paul Scholes sending-off decision, you couldn’t argue with that.
“But the Rooney dismissal was a farce. United are losing, he wants to get on with the game, he picks the ball up and hurls it about 40 yards straight to Jonny Evans.
“I know the referee’s in that vicinity but it landed straight at Evans’ feet. And the referee sent him off.
“I think referees want to do something to be noticed and get their photo in the papers. The sending-off of Rooney got him noticed. They talk about respect but referees have got to earn it.”
