Kenny Dalglish questions Wayne Rooney's Euro 2012 ban appeal

Kenny Dalglish has criticised the Football Association's decision to appeal against Wayne Rooney's three-match Euro 2012 ban.

The suspension, imposed after Rooney was sent off against Montenegro, has been reduced to two games, meaning he can play against Ukraine on 19 June.

But Dalglish said it was "a bit strange" to appeal given the FA was "supposed to be setting an example".

However, the FA has issued a statement defending its right to appeal the ban.

The FA statement read: "To promote speed and consistency, stakeholders in England agreed a standard formula encompassing a fixed penalty sanction should be applied across the game by the FA.

"The FA's system allows clubs to make a claim of wrongful dismissal - to reduce a sanction to zero - or appeal the severity of a sanction, both of these processes are dealt with prior to the player's next fixture.

"Uefa chooses to operate a different process for European matches, based on a sliding scale, under which each sanction is determined individually by a disciplinary panel."

Rooney, who travelled to Nyon in Switzerland for Thursday's hearing, will still miss the Group D fixtures against France and Sweden.

Dalglish is also unhappy with the FA for their treatment of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Suarez is facing a racism charge dating from October and has also been charged with misconduct after allegedly making an obscene gesture to fans following the Reds' 1-0 defeat at Fulham on Monday.

Dalglish is unhappy that no date has been set for the Uruguayan international, 24, to answer the racism charge.

"The fact it has taken nine weeks to get a decision on one of the other charges is a bit of a joke as well," said the Scot.

"I don't think that has helped. The circus which is around about him has been caused mainly by that."

A screen was lowered at the Liverpool press conference on which the club played what they said was a series of unpunished infringements against Suarez during the Fulham game.

Dalglish has already indicated he thought referee Kevin Friend did not give his team the benefit of 50-50 decisions during Monday's match.

"If anyone wants to see the truth from the other night it is on the screen," said Dalglish, who said he fully supported Suarez.

"The people at Liverpool and anyone who has any leaning to the club - be it staff, players, supporters - they will stand by him and they know what the truth is."

Suarez faces the charge after allegedly using racist language during an on-field clash with Manchester United's Patrice Evra on 15 October.

Dalglish contrasted the situation with the FA's appeal to Uefa over Rooney's ban, imposed after a red card for kicking Miodrag Dzudovic during England's 2-2 draw in Montenegro in October.

"I don't think it's a good example to set," he concluded.

Responding to Dalglish's comments, FA director of communications Adrian Bevington tweeted that it was "important to clarify Uefa has completely different set of disciplinary regulations to the FA".

Meanwhile, Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish believes Uefa have shown "a bit of leniency" in reducing Rooney's ban, but expects the England striker to take full advantage next summer.

The former Scotland boss said: "I know world football and European football doesn't want to see the best players missing at these big tournaments.

"I don't think they've done it because of that necessarily, but they've shown a bit of leniency and I'm sure Wayne Rooney will repay it in kind."

McLeish added: "Everyone needs a wee bit of luck from time to time and it is good news for England.

"The tournament would love to see Rooney involved and all the top players involved."