England striker Wayne Rooney was Thursday banned for three matches by UEFA for his red card against Montenegro, a decision which will rule him out of the group stages of Euro 2012. Manchester United star Rooney was punished for his 74th-minute sending off in the 2-2 draw in Podgorica last Friday in England's final qualifier when he kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic. “The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has today handed down a three-match suspension to England forward Wayne Rooney following his dismissal during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro last Friday,” said a UEFA statement. The Football Association is yet to decide whether or not to appeal, an action which could lead to an even longer suspension. “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,” the statement said. England had been hopeful that the 25-year-old would only serve a one-game ban after referee Wolfgang Stark admitted Rooney's acceptance of his red card could work in his favour. Rooney's sending-off had reopened all the old question marks about the striker's temperament, echoing his 2006 World Cup quarterfinal dismissal for a similarly reckless foul on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho. England coach Fabio Capello said Rooney, who has 73 caps, had been guilty of a “silly” mistake, and had revealed that he plans to use next month's friendlies against world champions Spain and Sweden as an opportunity to plan for the player's absence. “I think all the players are important. But we will find the solution to play without him. We will try something the next game, the next friendly game that we play,” the Italian said. Capello admitted that Rooney's behaviour was indefensible. “It's a red card. I can't defend that. He made a silly mistake. He said ‘yes, sorry',” Capello said in the aftermath of the game in Montenegro. Ranieri ban overturned Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri has had his ban for abusing referee Gianluca Rocchi at half-time of his team's match against Napoli partially overturned. Ranieri was sent off at half-time after furiously protesting to Rocchi following a couple of poor decisions that went Napoli's way.
