Butcher tips hefty ban for Rooney

Former England captain Terry Butcher says Wayne Rooney will be lucky to be handed a one-match ban for his red card in Euro 2012 qualifying.

Rooney is facing a three-week suspension after kicking-out at Montenegro’s Miodrag Dzudovic in England’s final qualifier in Podgorica last week.

Butcher, part of the England side that reached the 1990 World Cup semi-finals under the late Sir Bobby Robson, doubts that the Manchester United striker will be sidelined for just one match at next year’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

“If he gets one game he’s the luckiest man in the world,” Butcher told the BBC.

“He’s got no defence and he just has to hope UEFA are lenient. He has had red cards before and UEFA may see it as a chance to make their mark.”

“I would expect at least a two-game ban. He’s got previous form and UEFA will look at this and I think they will say you just can’t do it.”

The referee in the Euro 2012 qualifier, Wolfgang Stark, had commented that Rooney’s acceptance of his red card without making a fuss could help his case when UEFA adjudicate on the matter.

The FA have submitted their case for his defence – which includes a written apology from the former Everton forward – in the hope that they can lessen the damage to England manager Fabio Capello’s preparation for the tournament.

But Butcher, who currently manages Scottish club Inverness Caledonian Thistle, was sceptical that UEFA will deem the striker unworthy of further punishment due to his history of being sent off.

“The referee said he did not contest the red card and that might count in his favour,” Butcher said. “But it is surely not the reaction he gave to the decision but the action that UEFA will judge. It was idiotic and quite aggressive towards his opponent.”

“For me it showed a complete lack of respect for his team-mates and England.”

“Capello must be so frustrated. How could he have seen that sort of behaviour coming? You couldn’t condone what Rooney did at seven or eight-year-old level.”