Rooney Ban Cut To Two

WAYNE ROONEY was celebrating today as his Euro 2012 ban was cut to TWO matches. The England striker arrived at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland this morning to appeal his three-match ban.

Rooney was suspended after kicking out at Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in a qualifier in October.

It meant he would have missed every group-stage match in Poland and Ukraine next summer. But after appearing at today's hearing, alongside Three Lions boss Fabio Capello, Rooney's ban was reduced.

An FA statement said: "UEFA have confirmed that the final match of Wayne Rooney's three-game ban has been suspended for four years." That is a huge bonus for Capello who will have the Manchester United star availble for a potentially crucial clash with Ukraine.

Rooney will still miss the first two matches of the tournament against France and Sweden.

England play the French on June 11 in Donetsk and Sweden in Kiev on June 15. Club England managing director Adrian Bevington said on Twitter: "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 as well." There is still the possibility of Rooney serving the extra one-game ban if he misbehaves playing for England in the next four years.

If, for example, he was sent off for violent conduct in the Ukraine game, then a one-match suspension would be added to the punishment for that red card.

Rooney was appearing at the hearing in Switzerland after Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League last night.

Alex Ferguson's men lost 2-1 to Swiss champions Basel and finished third in their group.

Source: thesun.co.uk