To be completely accurate, actually, the ban HASN'T been reduced to 2 games.
The third match ban has been SUSPENDED for FOUR YEARS. Read the article.
Bit bizarre, eh?
So he's back for the Ukraine game on the 19 June, which I wouldn't mind betting that we'll need to win to go through...
More interesting than the reduction itself is the FA's decision to appeal in the first place. As the disciplinary body of football in our country they've pretty much guaranteed that there is now no such thing as a frivolous appeal against a red card and in fact there's now a real precedent for reducing 3 match bans for violent conduct. It's a rod for their own back and Premiership team lawyers up and down the country will just be waiting to pick them up on this.
Don't all strikers get most of their goals against inferior opposition? Generally you come up against a very good side, a very good defence and there isn't going to be a lot of goals in it generally.
More interesting than the reduction itself is the FA's decision to appeal in the first place. As the disciplinary body of football in our country they've pretty much guaranteed that there is now no such thing as a frivolous appeal against a red card and in fact there's now a real precedent for reducing 3 match bans for violent conduct. It's a rod for their own back and Premiership team lawyers up and down the country will just be waiting to pick them up on this.
What a bloody farce. Patrick Barclay spoke on Sunday about how the FA should accept the 3-game ban, take their medicine and then maybe, just maybe, UEFA and FIFA might start to respect us a bit more. I could see his point. And then this happens.
Now there's all sorts of permutations re the first 2 games:
6 points: Who needs Rooney?
4 points: Rooney comes in, we lose to Ukraine and go out on goal difference.
1 or 2 points: Winless. Probably too much negative press and in-fighting in the squad to pull it round, with or without Rooney.
0 points: We're out already. Rooney scores a hat-trick / gets sent off.