Capello's plea sees Rooney's ban reduced to two games

EURO 2012WAYNE ROONEY has been cleared to play in England's final group game at Euro 2012, after Fabio Capello took full responsibility for the striker's red card against Montenegro and urged a Uefa disciplinary panel not to punish him for an experienced manager's mistake.

The Italian was instrumental in convincing the governing body of European football to reduce Rooney’s ban – for kicking the Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in a qualifier in October – from three matches to two.

Capello told a three-man panel at Uefa headquarters that he should have substituted Rooney at half-time in Podgorica as, in the England manager’s opinion and contrary to what was said in public at the time, the forward was distracted by the arrest of his father and uncle 24 hours before the game as part of an investigation into betting irregularities. Both men vigorously deny any involvement.

Though the hearing was held in private, sources in Nyon revealed the England manager said he realised Rooney was not in the right frame of mind during the 2-2 draw and should have withdrawn the striker. Instead, the 26-year-old was dismissed and faced missing England’s three group matches next summer until Uefa granted him a reprieve.

Wayne Rooney Sr and Richie Rooney were arrested by Merseyside police on the eve of England’s final qualifier, as part of inquiries into Steve Jennings, the Merseyside-born Motherwell midfielder, allegedly getting himself sent off in a defeat by Hearts last year. The Rooneys were bailed pending further inquiries and have since vowed to clear their names.

Following Rooney’s dismissal Capello said: “It was no mistake to pick him.” His Montenegrin opposite number, Branko Brnovic, said: “They are serious problems and maybe that’s why he did what he did.”

In Nyon, Capello’s stance shifted towards Brnovic’s assessment and the admission he had mishandled Rooney’s predicament in Montenegro was taken into consideration by the panel.

Capello led a delegation that included Rooney and four lawyers – Adam Lewis QC, who recently represented the former Tour de France champion Alberto Contador at the defence of his positive doping test, Antonio Rigozzi, John Ellis and James Bonnington.

As he was ushered out of Uefa headquarters and into a waiting car with his agent, Paul Stretford, and Capello, Rooney said the hearing “went fine”. Moments later the managing director of Club England, Adrian Bevington, confirmed the third game of Rooney’s ban had been suspended for four years and he would therefore be free to face Ukraine in Donetsk on June 19th.

“We are very pleased,” Bevington said. “We arrived with the possibility of Wayne missing the whole group stage, which would have posed a huge challenge to Fabio and the team. To have him available for the final game is a positive result.”

Uefa confirmed that the suspension applies only to international matches under its jurisdiction – meaning Rooney could be given an additional game’s ban if he were to be dismissed at Euro 2012 or in qualifying for the 2016 European Championship in France.

GuardianService