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FA appeals Rooney's three-match ban

ESPN staff
November 4, 2011
Wayne Rooney's ban has been appealed © Getty Images
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The Football Association has confirmed an appeal has been lodged against Wayne Rooney's three-match international suspension following his sending off for England against Montenegro last month.

Rooney was given a red card after kicking out at Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic towards the latter stages of the game on October 7, subsequently picking up a three-match ban from UEFA that would rule him out of the entire group stages of next summer's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

The FA had been required to wait until they received UEFA's written explanation for the ban before launching any appeal and, having finally received the reasons on Tuesday, made the governing body aware of their decision to contest the punishment before Friday's deadline.

"The FA can confirm it will be appealing the UEFA sanction against Wayne Rooney following his red card against Montenegro," an official statement read.

"The written reasons were received on Tuesday evening with a deadline of midnight tonight (Friday 4 November) to respond, which we have now done so formally."

The FA now have six days to prepare their case in Rooney's defence, which has been aided by the fact that Dzudovic has emailed UEFA to plead leniency on the Manchester United striker's behalf.

Reports suggest England manager Fabio Capello is likely to take Rooney to the championships regardless of his ban, but the appeal nevertheless raises the prospect that the ban could be shortened and the 26-year-old could play in the tournament before the knockout stages begin.

"It will be a bonus if it is cut by one game," Rooney noted, after United beat Otelul Galati in midweek.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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