Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes have both been banned for three matches after losing claims for wrongful dismissal during a pre-season friendly against Porto in a pre-season tournament on 4 August.

The United pair were dismissed by Dutch referee Ruud Bossen and an independent disciplinary commission today upheld Bossen's decision.

Rooney and Scholes will both be banned for three matches against Charlton,Watford and Tottenham, although they will be eligible for the season-opener against Fulham on Sunday.

A Football Association statement read: "At an Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing today, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes had claims for wrongful dismissal rejected and will therefore both serve three-match suspensions.

"The bans will start from Wednesday 23 August, 14 days on from the day the FA received the match officials' report from the Dutch FA.

"Rooney and Scholes were sent off for violent conduct and serious foul play respectively during Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Porto in Amsterdam on Friday 4 August."

The news will come as a bitter blow to United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who was particularly incensed with Rooney's straight red card for catching Portuguese opponent Pepe in the face while challenging for the ball.

And earlier this week Ferguson expressed his confidence the pair would avoid suspension, insisting: "I am surprised it has carried on this far."