Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has admitted a charge of using offensive, insulting and/or abusive language after swearing into a camera at West Ham but he will contest the two-match ban handed down by the Football Association.
Rooney swore at a Sky Sports camera during Manchester United's 4-2 victory at West Ham on Saturday after he had completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
His appeal against the automatic two-match ban suspension will be heard on Wednesday, before Manchester United play Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
A statement on the FA's website read: "Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has today admitted a charge for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language.
"However, Rooney has submitted a claim that the automatic penalty of two games is clearly excessive. A commission will hear the submission on Wednesday."
If Rooney's claim fails he runs the risk of having a suspension that currently includes Saturday's Premier League encounter with Fulham and the following week's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley extended.
At his press conference ahead of the Chelsea clash, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made it clear he did not want to discuss the matter.
"I have nothing to say. I am not going to discuss it at all,'' he said. "We have submitted our case.''
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