Rooney: Unjust ban won't change me

Wayne Rooney is “gutted” by the decision to uphold the red card he received in Manchester United's pre-season match against Porto – but insists it will not affect the way he plays.

Both Rooney and Paul Scholes were sent off in the match in Amsterdam earlier this month but the club were confident their appeals against the respective dismissals would be upheld.

However the Football Association announced this week that an independent disciplinary commission supported the decisions taken by Dutch referee Ruud Bossen.

Rooney appeared to make contact with Porto player Pepe during an aerial challenge and was shown his second straight red card, following his dismissal in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.

But he told The Sun: “I’m gutted with that decision. I'm extremely disappointed to miss any games over that. It was the wrong decision to send me off.

“I never want to miss a game and certainly not for a harsh decision like that. You only have to look at the video to see I only had eyes for the ball.”

Rooney, 20, is available for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership match against Fulham at Old Trafford, but he must then sit out United’s next three league games.

He believes his combative style of play is making him a target for referees, suggesting football is veering towards becoming a non-contact sport.

However Rooney is not ready to compromise, confident he is a fair player.

“Unfortunately football is getting more and more where you cannot touch an opponent,” he said.

“You see red cards now that would not even be fouls in years gone by. It's disappointing the way it has gone but you have to get on with it. The way I play football will not change. I’m determined. I want to win every ball and every challenge I go into.”