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Rooney to miss semi-final as ban upheld
2011-04-07 23:20:34
Rooney swore after completing his hat-trick in Saturday's 4-2 win at West Ham
Share this page print Wayne Rooney banned for Man Utd's FA Cup semi-finalWayne Rooney said he is "gutted" he will miss the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on 16 April after he failed to overturn a two-match ban.
The Manchester United striker accepted the Football Association charge for swearing into a TV camera after scoring a hat-trick at West Ham last Saturday.
But he appealed against the length of the suspension, calling it "excessive".
"That doesn't seem right," read a statement from Rooney, who also misses Saturday's league game against Fulham.
The 25-year-old issued his statement shortly after the announcement and it added: "I am gutted to miss two matches, one of which is an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
“Wayne Rooney apologised immediately after the match, and the club now wishes to move to on”
Manchester United"I am not the first player to have sworn on TV and I won't be the last.
"Unlike others who have been caught swearing on camera, I apologised immediately. And yet I am the only person banned for swearing. That doesn't seem right.
"Whatever, I have to accept that what's happened has happened and move on from here. That is what I intend to do."
Manchester United also released a statement in which the club admitted to being "clearly very disappointed".
It continued: "The club put forward a very strong case to have the punishment reduced, which was unsuccessful.
"Wayne Rooney apologised immediately after the match, and the club now wishes to move to on to what hopefully will be a very exciting conclusion to the season."
Despite serving a domestic suspension, Rooney will still be available for the second leg of United's Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The England international scored the winner in United's 1-0 win in the first leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The first match for which Rooney will be available domestically is the Premier League trip to Newcastle on 19 April. The Red Devils are seven points clear of second-place Arsenal having played one game more than their closest challengers.
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