(Recasts with Rooney banned, new dateline)
LONDON, Dec 30 - Manchester United striker Wayne
Rooney was banned for three matches on Thursday after admitting
a charge of violent conduct.
The ban will start immediately, a Football Association
spokesman said, meaning the 19-year-old England international
misses United's next two league matches against Middlesbrough
and Tottenham and their FA Cup tie against Exeter.
Under the FA's new fast-track disciplinary system Rooney had
been given until 1800 GMT on Thursday to respond to the charge
of violent conduct relating to his clash with Bolton defender
Tal Ben Haim on Sunday at Old Trafford.
Rooney pushed Ben Haim in the face during United's 2-0
Premier League win.
Speaking earlier on Thursday, United manager Alex Ferguson
launched an angry attack on the FA's new disciplinary system.
Ferguson was annoyed that, unlike under the FA's previous
system, the club could not be represented at a disciplinary
hearing if the striker denied the charge.
"The system is completely flawed," Ferguson told reporters
in Manchester. "The problem for us now is we can't really appeal
because we are not allowed to be represented. It is a closed
session.
"So therefore they are telling you that you need not bother
appealing because we're not going to win anyway.
"As we are approaching 2005, that seems to be unfair and
immoral."
Ferguson also said he was bemused by the FA's decision to
charge Rooney with violent conduct in the first place.
FERGUSON BEMUSED
Israeli Ben Haim has also been charged with improper conduct
for over-reacting. The referee took no action against either
player.
"The violent conduct charge bemuses me because every man and
his dog would agree it was not violent conduct," Ferguson said.
"If it is violent conduct why are they charging Ben Haim? I
can't understand it. He (Ben Haim) is being charged so they
therefore believe he is guilty of diving and bringing the game
into disrepute."
The FA consulted widely before bringing in its new system
this season which is intended to speed up the handling of
disciplinary cases.
Rooney will miss Saturday's Premier League trip to
Middlesbrough and the home match against Spurs on January 4,
together with the FA Cup third round tie against non-league
Exeter at Old Trafford on January 8.