• Euro 2012

England nervously await Rooney's Euro 2012 fate

ESPN staff
October 13, 2011
Wayne Rooney could be facing a three-match ban © Getty Images
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England will discover on Thursday afternoon if Wayne Rooney will be suspended for their entire group stage campaign at this summer's Euro 2012 Championships.

Rooney faces a definite suspension of at least one match after he kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic during the 2-2 draw with Montenegro. However, due to the violent nature of the offence, the Manchester United man could see a heavier punishment issued by UEFA.

There is precedent for cases like Rooney's, most notably Andrey Arshavin's suspension from Euro 2008. Like Rooney, Arshavin was sent off in Russia's final qualifying game, so he was handed a two-game ban heading into the tournament.

Working against Rooney is the fact that television evidence is far clearer than in the case of Arshavin. However, in the England man's favour is the opinion of referee Wolfgang Stark, who commended Rooney for accepting his punishment without question on the pitch.

UEFA's disciplinary regulations article 10(e) states the "suspension for three competition matches or for a specified period for assaulting another player or other person present at the match". However, the FA is hoping for a lenient view of Rooney's actions.

Meanwhile, former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne - often likened to Rooney due to his hot-tempered nature - predicts the fiery forward will get sent off again in the future. Sir Alex Ferguson recently claimed the forward was improving his behaviour, but Gascoigne insists the self-destruct button will always be present.

"What has he done wrong?" Gascoigne asked on talkSPORT. "I mean okay, he got sent off but it won't be his first time and it's not going be his last time.

"It won't be long before he's captain. He'll have to go to the Euros without a shadow of a doubt and I don't think anyone in the country has a problem with that.

"Capello can't get inside his head? Why do you want to get inside his head? I remember Walter Smith, he came in once and he grabbed me by the throat and I said, 'What's the matter with you?' And he said, 'I've been to see a psychiatrist and he said there's nothing I can do with you but just leave you as you are.' And it's true."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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