Rooney challenges ban

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney will contest the two-match ban for using inappropriate language, the Football Association confirmed.

Rooney plead guilty to the charge on Tuesday, but will contest the severity of his sentence.

If the penalty is downgraded to one game, Rooney will be free to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on April 17.

The Football Association handed down the charge for ‘the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language’ on Monday, following the striker’s foul-mouthed rant after scoring his third goal against West Ham United at the weekend.

With the prospect of missing the City clash and the English Premier League game with Fulham, Rooney accepted the charge but not the resultant penalty.

“Rooney has submitted a claim that the automatic penalty of two games is clearly excessive. A commission will hear the submission on Wednesday,” a statement from the FA read.

Rooney, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 win over West Ham United, issue an apology after the game.