UEFA bans Wayne Rooney for 3 Euro 2012 matches

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UEFA bans Wayne Rooney for 3 Euro 2012 matches

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Rooney has been handed a three-match ban by UEFA for kicking a player in England's final qualifier.

14 October,2011 06:07 am

Wayne Rooney will miss the entire group stage of the 2012 European Championship after being given a three-match ban by UEFA on Thursday for kicking a player in Englands final qualifier.UEFAs disciplinary panel announced the verdict after examining the England strikers kick at Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in a qualifying game last Friday.UEFAs rule book calls for three-game bans in cases judged to be assault, rather than the mandatory one-match ban for receiving a red card.The striker will now be suspended from playing in his countrys next three UEFA national competition matches for which he would be eligible, UEFA said in a statement.Rooney, who did not attend the hearing, can appear in his own defense at an appeal hearing.Englands Football Association said it would study the detailed verdict from UEFA before deciding whether to appeal.The expected appeal is likely to be heard before England finds out its Euro 2012 opponents on Dec. 2 when the draw is made in Kiev. Ukraine is co-hosting next years tournament with Poland.Rooney and Englands Football Association wrote letters of mitigation to the 10-man UEFA panel, which also weighed German match referee Wolfgang Starks report.Stark had praised Rooney for showing no dissent after his dismissal, and England hoped UEFA would see the offense as resulting from frustration rather than malice.