NYON, Switzerland -- Wayne Rooney was cleared to play in England's final group match at next year's European Championship following UEFA's decision Thursday to reduce his three-match ban to two.
UEFA's appeals panel deferred the final match of the England striker's three-match suspension on condition of his good behavior for four years.
He will be eligible when England plays Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine in Donetsk on June 19, but remains banned for England's games against France and Sweden.
Rooney, wearing a Manchester United blazer and tie, did not speak with reporters upon leaving UEFA headquarters with England coach Fabio Capello, who helped present his case in a 90-minute session before a three-member appeal panel.
UEFA banned Rooney for three matches after he was sent off for kicking Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic in England's last qualifier in October.
Rooney's lawyers argued that the incident was an act of petulance rather than malice.
Rooney called on some of the same legal team used last month by Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador at his 2010 Tour de France doping hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
London-based lawyer Adam Lewis and Swiss lawyer Antonio Rigozzi helped present the defense for both athletes.
Rooney's hearing began just 10 hours after his club was eliminated from the group stage of UEFA's Champions League by FC Basel.
UEFA said that Rooney's third suspended match will be activated if he is sent off for a violent conduct offense while playing for England in a European Championship match.
"Rooney will also spend a day supporting a UEFA project as part of the sentence," the European soccer authority said in a statement.
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