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Rooney’s appeal on ban advanced 1 day

Comment: 0 November 18th, 2011 by: admin

MANCHESTER United are desperate to have Wayne Rooney play during an upcoming Champions League match so they made one request to enable him to perform his duty with the Red Devils.

The Football Association’s appeal against Rooney’s three-match Euro 2012 suspension has been brought forward to the UEFA to December 8.

Rooney is set to appear at a hearing on December 9 but with United seeing action in Basel on December 7, the start striker will be able to travel to Switzerland the next day.

The FA said Rooney, along with England manager Fabio Capello and Club England Managing Director Adrian Bevington, will appear at the hearing before the UEFA Appeals Body.

FA spokesman Stuart Mawhinney said on the FA website that they have worked closely with Manchester United to ensure an agreeable date with UEFA that will allow Rooney to attend the hearing in person.

Rooney got the three-game ban after being red-carded for his vicious kick against Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic during a recent Euro 2012 qualifier.

United are set to battle FC Basel in a UEFA Champions League Group C game at St. Jakob Park.

Rooney admitted that he himself was to blame for his misdeed. ‘Obviously, it’s devastating for me but it’s something that’s my own fault, so I can’t really complain.’

But he said the punishment is a bit harsh and is disappointed with it.

Based on UEFA’s handling of a similar case involving Russia forward Andrey Arshavin four years ago, Rooney is hoping his penalty would be cut to a two-game ban.

Arshavin was meted the penalty for his violent conduct against Andorra during a decisive qualifier which the Russians eventually won 1-0 to reach 2008 ahead of England.

The UEFA slapped Arshavin with a two-match suspension which was carried over to the final tournament held in Austria and Switzerland. He went on to become one of the standouts of that event as he led Russia to the semifinals.

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