UEFA to decide Rooney's Euro 2012 ban this week

Posted Monday, October 10, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Wayne Rooney will find out on Thursday how many European Championship matches he will miss for kicking an opponent in a qualifying game.

UEFA said Monday that its disciplinary panel will study the England forward’s case at a scheduled meeting and consider increasing his mandatory one-match ban for violent conduct.

Rooney could be ordered to serve a three-match ban, excluding him from the entire group stage at Euro 2012, which will be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

UEFA’s panel will study a report from German referee Wolfgang Stark, who dismissed Rooney for kicking Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic on Friday.

England won the group after a 2-2 draw in Podgorica, and Montenegro advanced to the playoffs in second place by exploiting Rooney’s absence to level in stoppage time.

Rooney and England can appeal if his one-match ban is extended.

The Manchester United striker could get a two-match ban based on UEFA’s handling of a similar case involving Russia forward Andrei Arshavin four years ago.

Arshavin was sent off for violent conduct in the 84th minute of a decisive qualifier against Andorra. Russia won 1-0 to advance to Euro 2008 ahead of England. UEFA imposed a two-match ban on Arshavin, which carried over to the final tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

Arshavin sat out Russia’s 4-1 loss to Spain and 1-0 victory over Greece, then scored in a 2-0 win over Sweden.

In the quarterfinals, Arshavin was again inspirational as Russia eliminated an impressive the Netherlands 3-1 in extra time. Russia then lost 3-0 to eventual winner Spain in the semifinals.