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Rooney loses appeal, gets two-match ban

Last updated on: April 07, 2011 17:29 IST

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney lost his appeal on Thursday against a two-match ban imposed by the FA for swearing into a TV camera.

He will now miss United's home Premier League match against Fulham on Saturday and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 16.

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The England striker, who quickly apologised for his outburst, has been punished by the FA for the four-letter rant into a live TV camera during United's 4-2 win at West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Wayne RooneyIn a statement issued through his spokesman, Rooney said: "I am gutted to miss two matches, I am not the first player to have sworn on TV and I won't be the last.

"Unlike others who have been caught swearing on camera, I apologised immediately. And yet I am the only person banned for swearing. That doesn't seem right."

Rooney ran to the camera after completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot with his obscenities clearly heard by millions of viewers worldwide.

While United accepted the charge against Rooney of using abusive language they felt the suspension was excessive and appealed.

In a statement the FA said: "Rooney had admitted a charge for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language, but claimed that the automatic penalty of two games was clearly excessive.

"The Commission did not accept the claim and Rooney will begin the standard two-match suspension with immediate effect."

Rooney added to Saturday's hat-trick when he scored the only goal in United's 1-0 over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.

He will be free to play in the return leg next Tuesday as that game is not under the FA's auspices, but UEFA's.

In a statement on their website (www.manutd.com) the club said: "Manchester United is clearly very disappointed with the Regulatory Commission's decision.

"Wayne Rooney apologised immediately after the match and the club now wishes to move to on to what hopefully will be a very exciting conclusion to the season."

Source: REUTERS
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