UNITED GET THEIR APPEAL IN FIRST

Last updated : 10 August 2006 By Ed

The Times:

The FA is preparing to help Wayne Rooney to avoid a suspension for violent conduct that threatens to rule him out of three of the first four matches of Manchester United's Barclays Premiership campaign. The England forward was given an automatic three-match ban last night after being shown a red card against FC Porto in the LG Amsterdam Tournament last Friday.

FA officials confirmed that Rooney and Paul Scholes would be suspended after the match officials' report, a 23-page document faxed by the Dutch FA, stated that Ruud Bossen, the referee, had sent them off for violent conduct and serious foul play respectively against Porto. With the three-match bans coming into effect 14 days after the receipt of the report, they can play in United's opening Premiership game, at home to Fulham on Sunday week, but will in theory miss the next three fixtures — away to Charlton Athletic and Watford and at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Scholes is likely to miss all three, with even Sir Alex Ferguson having admitted that the 31-year-old deserved to be sent off for a late challenge on Ricardo Quaresma, but United have indicated to the FA that they will appeal against Rooney's dismissal after his arm caught Pepe, the Porto defender, in the face. There is a view within Soho Square that the red card was harsh and, although the decision would be referred by the FA's disciplinary department to an independent three-man disciplinary commission, probably on Tuesday, United have been encouraged in their belief that any appeal would be successful.

An FA spokesman said: "The club have until the close of business on Friday to submit any claim for wrongful dismissal. This may include video evidence or any other documentation. The case for wrongful dismissal would then be heard by a commission next week."