FA believe legal team will help Rooney get Euro ban reduced

The 26-year-old Manchester United striker will attend a UEFA appeal hearing along with national manager Fabio Capello on Thursday as he seeks a lesser punishment for his sending-off in the 2-2 qualifier draw with Montenegro in Podgorica in October.

Rooney, who will travel to the hearing after United’s Champions League game in Basle on Wednesday evening, was dismissed for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic, whose evidence will also be presented as part of his case.

Adrian Bevington, managing director of Club England, said that the FA contingent would travel in hope after putting together what they believe is a strong legal case.

He said: “It’s been going on now since the sending-off when we were away in Montenegro.

“We have spoken at length with our own internal lawyers on this, and also we have been working with an external legal firm as well, who have a great deal of expertise in sports law.

“As everyone knows, we have submitted an appeal. Wayne will attend the hearing – he will travel in after United’s game on Wednesday night – and Fabio will also be there to give evidence.

“I believe the evidence provided by the Montenegrin player, who was quite supportive of Wayne after the game, will also be part of our case.

“I don’t want to say too much more about what our case will be because it would be inappropriate but we go there, obviously, with the hope of at least getting some reduction in the suspension so Wayne can play a more fulsome part in the tournament, if possible.”

Asked if he is hopeful of success, Bevington replied: “I genuinely don’t know.

“Thankfully, we aren’t overly-experienced in going to UEFA, it’s not something that we do as an organisation too frequently.

“All we can do is go with the best legal advice that we have.

“And with the way that Wayne, Fabio and those of us involved present ourselves on the day and appeal to UEFA to look favourably on it.”

Should the three-match ban remain in place, Rooney will miss the entire group stage of England’s campaign, although former manager Sven Goran Eriksson insists he would take him to Poland and Ukraine regardless.

“I don’t know the thoughts of Capello there, but I would do it – no doubts about that,” said Eriksson.

“Rooney is among the best players you can find.

“He is an extremely important player for England, so I would do it, yes.”

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