Rooney ban reduced for Euro 2012

Soccer: The Euro 2012 ban of Manchester United and England star player Wayne Rooney has been reduced to two matches following…

Soccer:The Euro 2012 ban of Manchester United and England star player Wayne Rooney has been reduced to two matches following a successful appeal to UEFA.

Crucially Rooney will now be available for England's match against Ukraine in their third and final group game in Donetsk on June 19.

Rooney was originally banned for three matches following his sending off in the 2-2 draw away to Montenegro in October for aiming a kick at opponent Miodrag Dzudovic.

UEFA's three-man appeals panel reduced his original three-match ban, while a spokesman confirmed that the ban for the third match will be suspended for four years and will only kick in if he is sent off in another European match.

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The Manchester United forward will miss England's opening two Group D matches against France in Donetsk on June 11 and Sweden in Kiev on June 15.

Rooney has also agreed to do some coaching in the community