Rooney cleared for Euro 2012 as ban is cut to two games

WAYNE ROONEY will get the chance to play for England at Euro 2012 after Uefa reduced his international ban from three to two games on appeal. The Manchester United striker has now been cleared to play in England's final group game at the tournament against Ukraine on June 19 next year.
 
He had been handed a three-match suspension after being sent off for kicking an opponent against Montenegro in October and would have missed all of England's group games. That cast doubt on his participation in the tournament as he would not have been eligible until the knock-out stages, and there are no guarantees that England will make it that far.

The Times reports that the FA appeal against the ban focused on Rooney's state of mind before the Montenegro game. He learned that his father and uncle had been arrested over an alleged betting scam a day before the match. The FA also pointed out that the player Rooney fouled, Miodrag Dzudovic, was uninjured in the incident and that the England man left the field immediately after being shown a red card.
 
Rooney was left out of the England squad for two friendly games last month as manager Fabio Capello was forced to plan for Euro 2012 without his primary striker.
 
Oliver Kay of the Times reports: "Capello had at times been ambiguous in public over whether he will take Rooney to the European Championship finals... but he told the player in a face-to-face meeting in October that he would be selected no matter what happens."
 
The only concern now for England is that the third game of the ban has been suspended rather than cancelled, and will be reimposed if he is sent off on England duty again. ·