Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is angry after his appeal against a two-match ban was rejected. The Football Association confirmed the news this morning, meaning Rooney will sit out Saturday's Premier League encounter with Fulham at Old Trafford, plus the eagerly-anticipated FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley on April 16.
In a statement issued through his spokesman Ian Monk, Rooney said: "I am gutted to miss two matches, one of which is an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
"I am not the first player to have sworn on TV and I won't be the last.
"Unlike others who have been caught swearing on camera, I apologised immediately. And yet I am the only person banned for swearing. That doesn't seem right.
Rooney has been joined in his disappointment by United, whose manager Sir Alex Ferguson only needed to look back to the last Manchester derby in February, which the striker settled with a sensational overhead kick, for the impact he will be missing at Wembley.
"Manchester United is clearly very disappointed with the decision," said a statement issued by the Old Trafford outfit.
"The club put forward a very strong case to have the punishment reduced, which was unsuccessful.
"Wayne apologised immediately after the match and the club now wishes to move to on to what hopefully will be a very exciting conclusion to the season."
