NYON, Switzerland (AP) — England star Wayne Rooney has been banned from three matches at the 2012 European Championship for kicking an opponent.
European soccer’s governing body cited him Thursday for his actions against Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic during a qualifying game last week.
The disciplinary panel added two extra matches to a mandatory one-match ban for receiving a red card. Rooney did not attend the hearing. He can appeal and appear in his own defense at a later date.
The forward is barred from all three group-stage matches. England will learn its Euro 2012 opponents on Dec. 2.
