Rooney Agent Stretford Loses Ban Appeal

Wayne Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, has lost an appeal against an 18-month ban and £300,000 fine imposed by the Football Association for breaking regulations when he signed up the England striker.

Stretford had appealed against a regulatory commission's sanctions imposed in July after seven of nine charges of breaching Fifa and FA regulations were found proved.

But an independent appeal board announced on Monday that it has upheld the original punishment.

An FA statement read: "The board dismissed Mr Stretford's appeal in its entirety and the decisions of an independent regulatory commission in July 2008 were confirmed."

Stretford can still go to an arbitration panel to contest the findings and his ban will be suspended until he has made that decision.