Two-match ban for Rooney
08 Jul 2006 - 15:40:09
England striker Wayne Rooney has been suspended for two matches and fined £2,400 by FIFA for his red card in last weekend's World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal.
The 20-year-old Manchester United star was found guilty of violent conduct after stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho.
He was dismissed for the 62nd minute incident as England eventually bowed out of the tournament on penalties after the game had ended goalless after extra-time.
Rooney will now miss England's Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Andorra on September 2 and away to FYR Macedonia four days later but will be available for the return match against the latter on 7 October.
After the match Rooney pleaded his innocence and insisted there was no malice intended in his actions.
FIFA has also banned Argentina defender Leandro Cufre for four matches for his part in the fracas that followed his team's quarter-final exit on penalties to Germany.
His team-mate Maxi Rodriguez was banned for two matches for his part in the same incident.
