Rooney loss a huge blow — Shearer

WAYNE Rooney’s three–match ban that will see the striker miss all of England’s Euro 2012 group games has been labelled “a huge blow” to the team by ex–striker Alan Shearer.

England boss Fabio Capello’s worst fears were realised last night when UEFA handed Rooney the ban for his red card after kicking Montenegro’s Miodrag Dzudovoic.

The kick was judged “an assault” by UEFA’s control and disciplinary panel, who stuck to the letter of the law in handing out the punishment despite a plea for leniency from the Football Association.

Shearer said: “It's a huge blow. It’s not only a huge blow to the team, to the fans and to football followers but to Wayne himself because he realises he’s made a stupid error.

“I still think whoever replaces him in the team, England still should have enough to get through the three games without him.”

The ban means Capello now has to judge whether to take Rooney as part of his squad to Poland and Ukraine, and hope that he can make an impact if England make it through to the quarter–finals.

The FA will wait for the full reasons behind the decision before deciding whether to appeal. The ban could even be increased by an appeal panel, but that would be unlikely and it looks odds on that the FA will try to have the suspension reduced.

The Manchester United striker is understood to be extremely disappointed in the outcome but will follow the FA's advice about any appeal.