Rooney to learn fate on Thursday

England striker Wayne Rooney will discover the cost of his red card in Montenegro after a UEFA meeting on Thursday.

GettyImagesWayne Rooney saw red for this kick

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UEFA's Disciplinary and Control Body will sit to discuss issues from the last set of qualifiers. They will also hear outstanding complaints, including the claims of racist abuse levelled at Bulgaria by England.

But the crucial outcome, for the Three Lions at least, will be the ban handed to Wayne Rooney for his dismissal in their final qualifier last Friday. Rooney petulantly kicked out at Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic.

With no more competitive games for England before next summer's finals in Ukraine and Poland, UEFA has already confirmed Rooney will automatically miss the opening group game.

UEFA will now decide whether or not Rooney should be banned for any additional games, with violent conduct usually leading to a two-game ban.

Russia's Andrei Arshavin was sent off against Andorra in their last qualifier for Euro 2008, in a very similar incident to that of Rooney as he lashed out at an opponent. Arshavin was suspended for two matches but still left a lasting imprint on the tournament when available for selection in the last group game.

England boss Fabio Capello has stated that Wayne Rooney will not start any of England friendlies in the run-up to Euro 2012 as he tries to find a system that works without the Manchester United man.

Referee Wolfgang Stark, who sent Rooney off, had words of support for the Manchester United star over the weekend, believing that his reaction to the dismissal and calm exit from the pitch may help his cause and limit his ban to a single match. But Rooney would be exceptionally lucky to escape with that punishment.

The draw for the play-offs also takes place at midday BST on Thursday, which will controversially be seeded once again. The pots for the final draw, on December 2, will also be known.