By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – England’s hopes of winning their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup were dealt a crushing blow today when UEFA’s disciplinary body banned Wayne Rooney for effectively the entire group phase of the Euro 2012 finals.
Rooney’s three-game ban for kicking Montenegro’s Miodrag Džudović during England’s qualification clinching 2-2 draw last Friday was judged “an assault” by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Panel, who stuck to the letter of the law in handing out the punishment despite a plea for leniency from the Football Association and the match referee, German Wolfgang Stark, pointing out in his report that Rooney left the field without contesting the automatic red card.
The decision means England boss Fabio Capello now has to judge whether to take the Manchester United striker as part of his squad to Poland and Ukraine in the hope England make it through to the quarterfinals.
The FA could appeal to get the suspension, considered harsh in the circumstances, reduced.
Rooney’s international career has been relatively free of serious misdemeanours but UEFA threw the book at England’s most important player just the same.
A UEFA statement said: “Today’s decision was taken in relation to the red card shown to Rooney for assault after 74 minutes of England’s final Group G game, the 2-2 draw with Montenegro in Podgorica.
“The striker will now be suspended from playing in his country’s next three UEFA national competition matches for which he would be eligible.”
The FA have three days to decide whether to appeal, and they said in a statement: “Further to UEFA’s decision to impose a three-match suspension on Wayne Rooney following his sending-off against Montenegro, the FA await the full reasons from the disciplinary committee, and will give full consideration to the decision internally, before deciding on any response to UEFA or making any further public comment.”
Capello faces a huge dilemma if Rooney’s ban remains at three games.
England could feasibly get knocked out with him sitting on the sidelines but leaving him at home could be even more risky if England reach the knockout phase.
Ex-England manager Graham Taylor said: “If they do well enough in the friendly games, then who knows, Capello might decide not to take Rooney.
“But if it were me at this moment, he is our best player and even if the three-game ban still stands, then I would take him.”
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