Rooney and Capello to go to hearing

18 November 2011 07:46

The Football Association have confirmed Wayne Rooney and Fabio Capello will both attend the UEFA disciplinary hearing into the red card that threatens to rule him out of the group phase of Euro 2012.

At the request of the FA, UEFA have agreed to bring the hearing forward by one day, to December 8, which will allow Rooney to make a personal appearance.

As Manchester United are in Switzerland for a Champions League encounter with Basle the previous evening and will not fly back to England until the Thursday anyway due to flying restrictions, Sir Alex Ferguson has given his blessing for Rooney to make the short trip to Nyon in order to plead his case.

And Capello will be with him as the FA legal team attempt to reduce a three-match ban imposed for the red card Rooney received for kicking out at Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in Podgorica last month.

"The FA can confirm that Wayne Rooney and Fabio Capello will appear at the personal hearing before the UEFA Appeals Body which will be considering the appeal against the decision to suspend Wayne for three matches following his sending off against Montenegro in October," confirmed the FA.

"UEFA has announced the re-arranged date of the hearing as Thursday, December 8, with Manchester United competing in Switzerland the evening before against FC Basle in the UEFA Champions League.

"Club England managing director Adrian Bevington will also attend the hearing."

FA spokesman Stuart Mawhinney said: "We have worked closely with Manchester United to ensure an agreeable date with UEFA that allows Wayne to attend the hearing in person.

"The FA has provided every support to Wayne and the England team throughout this process.

"Fabio Capello has also been clear about providing his own personal support - which will extend to attending the hearing with Wayne."

Source: PA