Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish on Thursday blasted the Football Association (FA) for setting a bad example in their appeal of Wayne Rooney's three-match international ban.
"I find it a bit strange the FA are supposed to be setting an example for things yet they appeal against Wayne Rooney's three-match ban," said Dalglish.
"I don't think that's a good example to set."
The Manchester United striker's suspension, which will take effect at next year's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, was reduced from three to two matches by UEFA after a red card for kicking Miodrag Dzudovic during England's 2-2 draw in Montenegro in October.
But Dalglish contrasted the situation with the treatment of one of his own players, Luis Suarez, both on and off the pitch.
Liverpool's Uruguay international, already facing a racism charge dating back to October, has been charged with misconduct after allegedly making an obscene gesture to fans following the 1-0 defeat at Fulham on Monday.
And Dalglish believes the FA should look at their own actions before tackling other issues.
Dalglish labelled the way the FA have dragged their heels over Suarez's racism charge with no date yet set for a hearing at which Suarez will deny the allegations against him.
"The fact it has taken nine weeks to get a decision on one of the other charges is a bit of a joke as well," added Dalglish.
"For me the most important person, who is under the greater spotlight, is Luis," said Dalglish.
"The people at Liverpool and anyone who has any leaning to the club -- be it staff, players, supporters -- they will stand by him and they know what the truth is.
"If anyone wants to see the truth from the other night it is on the screen."
The FA, who sent a team of four lawyers to Zurich, including leading advocate Adam Lewis QC, to argue Rooney's case over an incident he admitted was "stupid", later defended their conduct in respect of the United striker.
"The FA's system allows clubs to make a claim of wrongful dismissal - to reduce a sanction to zero -- or appeal the severity of a sanction, both of these processes are dealt with prior to the player's next fixture," an FA statement said.
"UEFA chooses to operate a different process for European matches, based on a sliding scale, under which each sanction is determined individually by a disciplinary panel.
"In any event a minimum one game ban will always be applied by UEFA.
"This process meets the demands of UEFA football where the period between fixtures is greater than that in the domestic game."
Rooney's two-match ban means he misses the Group D opener against France on June 11 in Donetsk and also the second game against Sweden in Kiev on June 15 but can now face Ukraine on June 19 in Donetsk.
Source: AFP
