Rooney in appeal bid

Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic said that he believed the three-match ban dished out to Rooney was too harsh and said he would even be willing to help Rooney in an appeal.

Manchester United forward Rooney was shown a straight red card by German referee Wolfgang Stark for kicking Dzudovic off the ball during the 2-2 draw which saw England reach the finals as Group G winners.

“I will speak for Rooney if he appeals against his ban," Dzudovic is quoted as saying in the Mirror.

“I don’t think it was fair (the punishment). He just was not thinking in that moment and after that he realised what he had done. He realised immediately what he had done and he apologised to me.

“It was really painful. I had a slight swelling after game but I didn’t have a bruise. I wasn’t shocked because I wasn’t aware of the kick at that moment.”

Dzudovic went on the add that he would love the chance to face Rooney again at the Championships in Poland/Ukraine, if his side can beat the Czech Republic in their play-off tie.

“Yes sure, I would like to play against him. He is a really great player and his team is always a pleasure (to play against),” the 32-year-old Spartak Nalchik player said.

Rooney, who was also sent off in the 2006 World Cup, was playing one day after his father and uncle were arrested and bailed by police over an alleged betting scam.

The FA are still deciding whether to appeal the decision, with UEFA holding the right to increase any ban if it is deemed to be 'frivolous'.

Manager Fabio Capello, who defended his decision to pick Rooney for the game, has already said that Rooney would not start in any of the warm-up friendlies before the tournament.