United risk Roo three-game ban

ALEX FERGUSON is risking losing Wayne Rooney for THREE games to make sure he can face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. 

Rooney, 25, accepted a charge of using offensive, insulting and/or abusive language for his foul-mouthed rant at a TV camera at West Ham. But Roo and Manchester United are arguing that the striker's two-match suspension is too severe.

That ban rules him out of this weekend's Premier League clash with Fulham PLUS the FA Cup semi against their Manchester rivals at Wembley on Saturday week.

An FA hearing will consider the appeal - and could increase it by an extra game if they consider it frivolous.

That would also rule him out of the leaders' league trip to Newcastle on April 19.
Rooney is likely to hear the verdict just two hours before taking on Chelsea in the Champions League tonight.

An FA statement said: "Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has admitted a charge for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language.

"However, Rooney has submitted a claim that the automatic penalty of two games is clearly excessive.

United boss Ferguson yesterday refused to talk about the Rooney incident, saying: "I am not going to discuss it at all. We have submitted our case."

But Fergie is happy the striker's hat-trick at West Ham shows he is coming to the boil at the right time of the season in terms of his scoring.

source: Thesun.co.uk