Striker Wayne Rooney
England striker Wayne Rooney’s Euro 2012 ban has been reduced from three to two matches following his appeal to European football’s governing body UEFA here on Thursday.
The Manchester United striker’s two-match ban means he misses the Group D opener against France on June 11 in Donetsk and the second game against Sweden in Kiev on June 15, but can now face joint hosts Ukraine on June 19 in Donetsk.
The 26-year-old’s absence for the France and Sweden games will nevertheless be a blow for England as he has scored scored 28 goals in 73 selections for the national side.
Rooney was appealing against the punishment he received for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic in the final Euro qualifier in Montenegro in October.
A ban for the third match has been suspended for four years and the player has also agreed to do some coaching in the community as part of a UEFA project.
The third match ban will only be invoked should he pick up a red card in a UEFA-sanctioned game, but not playing for his club in the Europa League.
If he picks up a red card at Euro 2012, he would miss the next two matches — one for the dismissal and the second under his current suspension.
Rooney travelled to Nyon for the 90-minute hearing after United’s shock Champions League exit at Basel on Wednesday night, along with England manager Fabio Capello.
Rooney’s appeal team also included Adam Lewis QC, who has previous experience of chairing Rugby Football Union appeal hearings, a Swiss sports lawyer, the FA’s solicitor, James Bonnington, and a representative from external lawyers Charles Russell.
Also figuring at the appeal was a written statement from Dzudovic asking UEFA to reduce the ban.
After the hearing, England managing director Adrian Bevington said: “It is a positive outcome, Wayne and Fabio are both very pleased.
“Wayne will now head back to Manchester, they are both very satisfied that they have had a fair hearing.
“Wayne always made it clear he accepted it was a red card offence and we are very pleased with the outcome.
“We arrived with the possibility of Wayne Rooney missing the entire group phase so to have him available for the final group game against Ukraine is a positive result for us and Wayne Rooney as well.”
Rooney himself had described his action as “stupid”.
The FA came under fire from Liverpool coach Kenny Dalglish, who contrasted Rooney’s predicament with the treatment of one of his own players, Luis Suarez, both on and off the pitch.
Liverpool’s Uruguay international, already facing a racism charge dating back to October, has been charged with misconduct after allegedly making an obscene gesture to fans following the 1-0 defeat at Fulham on Monday.
And Dalglish believes the FA should look at their own actions before tackling other issues.
Dalglish highlighted the way the FA have dragged their heels over Suarez’s racism charge, with no date yet set for a hearing at which Suarez will deny the allegations against him.
“The fact it has taken nine weeks to get a decision on one of the other charges is a bit of a joke as well,” said Dalglish.
“For me the most important person, who is under the greater spotlight, is Luis.”
©2011 AFP