MUFC
16-08-2006, 03:07 AM
Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes were both banned for three matches by the FA after losing claims for wrongful dismissal during a pre-season friendly against Porto in Amsterdam August 04.
The bans will start from Wednesday, August 23, 14 days on from the day the Football Association, the sport's governing body in England, received the match officials' report from the Dutch FA.
That means Rooney and Scholes are available for United's English Premiership opener at home to Fulham on Saturday but will miss the league games away to Charlton and Watford on August 23 and 26 respectively as well as the Old Trafford encounter with Tottenham on September 9.
England internationals Rooney and Scholes were sent off for violent conduct and serious foul play respectively.
"At an Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing today, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes had claims for wrongful dismissal rejected and will therefore both serve three-match suspensions," the FA said in a statement.
United were refusing to comment Tuesday on the bans, but had previously been confident that both would see their red cards downgraded to bookable offences.
Earlier this week, Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson, who had said he believed Rooney was falling victim to his own tempestuous reputation, said as he confirmed United's appeal: "I am surprised it has carried on this far".
Rooney appeared to make contact with Portuguese player Pepe during an aerial challenge and was shown his second straight red card following his dismissal in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
The striker said this week: "I feel a bit let down. I did not take my eyes off the ball once. On the way down, my hands brushed against the player. There was not much contact but the lad went down and stayed down."
Scholes was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a scything 68th-minute challenge although Ferguson said at the time: "There is no excuse for Paul -- it was a tackle from behind."
The bans will start from Wednesday, August 23, 14 days on from the day the Football Association, the sport's governing body in England, received the match officials' report from the Dutch FA.
That means Rooney and Scholes are available for United's English Premiership opener at home to Fulham on Saturday but will miss the league games away to Charlton and Watford on August 23 and 26 respectively as well as the Old Trafford encounter with Tottenham on September 9.
England internationals Rooney and Scholes were sent off for violent conduct and serious foul play respectively.
"At an Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing today, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes had claims for wrongful dismissal rejected and will therefore both serve three-match suspensions," the FA said in a statement.
United were refusing to comment Tuesday on the bans, but had previously been confident that both would see their red cards downgraded to bookable offences.
Earlier this week, Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson, who had said he believed Rooney was falling victim to his own tempestuous reputation, said as he confirmed United's appeal: "I am surprised it has carried on this far".
Rooney appeared to make contact with Portuguese player Pepe during an aerial challenge and was shown his second straight red card following his dismissal in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
The striker said this week: "I feel a bit let down. I did not take my eyes off the ball once. On the way down, my hands brushed against the player. There was not much contact but the lad went down and stayed down."
Scholes was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a scything 68th-minute challenge although Ferguson said at the time: "There is no excuse for Paul -- it was a tackle from behind."