Shearer accepts Euro ban

Alan Shearer will definitely miss Newcastle’s Champions League trips to Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen after deciding not to appeal against his two-match ban.

United tonight confirmed the 32-year-old, having consulted manager Sir Bobby Robson and chairman Freddy Shepherd, has decided to take his medicine after being convicted on video evidence of elbowing Inter Milan defender Fabio Cannavaro during last Wednesday night’s 4-1 Group A defeat.