Sir Alex Ferguson has been left reeling by the news Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes must serve three-match bans following their dismissals in the pre-season tournament in Amsterdam earlier this month.

The Manchester United chief was convinced the pair would be freed from suspension once the club's appeal had been heard by an independent disciplinary commission on Tuesday. But the commission has upheld the decisions of referee Ruud Bossen, who sent Rooney off for violent conduct, and Scholes for serious foul play, during the win over Porto.

A Football Association statement read: "At an Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing on Tuesday, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes had claims for wrongful dismissal rejected and will therefore both serve three-match suspensions."