Manchester United's bad couple of weeks could be about to get much worse...

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney may receive a three game ban, following his sending-off in yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The England international received a second yellow card for throwing the ball away and followed Paul Scholes down the tunnel, as the league leaders ended the game with nine men.

Whilst a dismissal for two bookable offences automatically results in a one game ban, it is believed that Rooney’s reaction to the red card may see his punishment increased.

The striker initially refused to leave the field and protested vehemently to referee Phil Dowd, before punching the corner flag on his way to the dressing room.

The News of the World claim that Rooney’s refusal to leave the field could land him in hot water and suggests that the FA may decide to increase his ban, depending on the contents of the referee’s report.

Should this prove to be correct, it would mean the striker would miss United’s games against Aston Villa, Sunderland and Everton, although, of course, this has not yet been confirmed.

Such a ban would be a big blow to United’s title hopes, which took another battering yesterday, as they lost their second successive game for the first time in four years.

The Red Devils will now look to get back on track in their next fixture, after the international break, at home to Aston Villa.

However, they will go into that game without their suspended trio of Nemanja Vidic, Scholes and Rooney.

- Goal.com