Wayne Rooney Out Three Euro Matches for Kick at Foe

iHaveNet.com

Wayne Rooney Out Three Euro Matches for Kick at Foe | 2012 European Championship

Wayne Rooney Out Three Euro Matches for Kick at Foe
Jojo Doria

London, England, United Kingdom

English striker Wayne Rooney will have to sit out for three group stages games at the 2012 European Championship after kicking a player in a game against Montenegro last week, multiple sources reported Thursday.

Arguably England's finest football player, Rooney was slapped with a three-game suspension after UEFA's control and disciplinary committee found out his action too offensive.

Frustrated with the defense all game long, Rooney kicked defender Miodrag Dzudovic in the 72:32 mark of England's 2-2 draw with Montenegro.

England Coach Fabio Capello called Rooney's kick a "silly mistake," but said he understands that all great players have anger-management issues.

As punishment, Capello will not allow Rooney to play in the upcoming friendly against reigning World Cup and European champ Spain at Wembley.

Still many football critics, including former England captain Alan Shearer and Manchester United's Alex Ferguson, to bring Rooney to next year's European Championship.

"I think Wayne has shown tremendous improvement in terms of his temperment, his reaction to tackles and things like that over the past few years." Capello told New York Times Thursday. "As maturity comes it brings other things. It brings responsibility and I think he's improving all the time.