Wayne Rooney has had his ban reduced
Referee Wolfgang Stark (L) sends off England's Wayne Rooney (R) during their Euro 2012 Group G qualifying soccer match against Montenegro in Podgorica, October 7, 2011. REUTERS

Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney has had his appeal against his three match international ban for EURO 2012, accepted by Uefa's disciplinary panel and the suspension has subsequently been reduced to two games.

Following Manchester United's elimination from the Champions League on Wednesday night, Rooney travelled to Uefa's headquarters in Nyon alongside Fabio Capello and a panel of lawyers representing the Football Association in an attempt to reduce the ban he received for his red card against Montenegro in October during the 2-2 draw.

The initial ban would have ruled the 26-year-old out for the entire group stage but having successfully argued the offence was not proportionate to the punishment handed out, the Manchester United striker will now be available for England's game against the co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk.

Rooney will be missing for England's first two matches in Group D, against France and Sweden, but having citied the off-field issues regarding his father in the hours prior to the qualifying match in October, and in addition to the request of leniency made by the Montenegrin defender Miodrag Dzudovic, the Manchester United icon will be available for the third and potentially decisive match on 19 June.

The third match of his ban has been suspended for four years and it would be enforced if Rooney is sent off for violent conduct in another European Championship match.

Football Association director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "We've had a very fair hearing.

"Wayne and Fabio are both very pleased. Wayne will head back to Manchester as a matter of priority.

"Wayne has always made clear that he accepted it was a red card offence.

"We arrived with the possibility of him missing the entire group phase - it would have been a huge challenge for Fabio and the team, so to have him available for the final group march against Ukraine is clearly very positive."