England  striker Wayne Rooney has been handed a three-match ban for violent conduct which led to his red card in England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro last Friday, UEFA have announced.

The ban is a major blow for England as he will miss all of England’s three group matches in the Euro 2012 finals next summer. 

The 25-year-old was always in danger of receiving a three-match ban despite the Football Association submitting a dossier of evidence pleading for leniency, including a letter from Rooney himself.

UEFA’s disciplinary regulations article 10(e) state the “suspension for three competition matches or for a specified period for assaulting another player or other person present at the match”.

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