Rooney appeal hearing date set by UEFA

England striker Wayne Rooney's appeal against his three-game ban will be heard on December 9, European football governing body UEFA announced on Tuesday. The ban would rule the Manchester United star out of the entire pool stage of Euro 2012, though, England manager Fabio Capello has said he will still take him. Rooney put his Euro participation in danger when he blatantly kicked Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in their final qualifying match. UEFA said in a statement: "The UEFA Appeals Body will deal with the case of England striker Wayne Rooney on Friday 9 December at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon. "This follows UEFA's receipt on Friday 4 November of the official written appeal from the English Football Association against the three-match suspension given to Rooney by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on 13 October." Rooney claims the punishment, which would scupper his chances of featuring in the tournament at all should England fail to reach the knockout phase, was "a bit harsh". And that view has been endorsed, in writing, by Dzudovic, and it is thought that will provide the central component of the FA's appeal to UEFA. The FA decided to pursue the matter after it became obvious there was no risk of the ban being increased, as would be the case in a domestic appeal.