Manchester United's push for the Premiership title suffered a major blow on Thursday when star striker Wayne Rooney was hit with a three-match ban after admitting a charge of violent conduct, the Football Association (FA) announced.

The England striker will miss the Premiership matches against Middlesbrough on Saturday and Tottenham (Jan 4) as well as the FA Cup third round clash with Exeter (Jan 8).

The ban was imposed after United decided not to appeal against the charge which was brought when Rooney pushed his hand into the face of Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Ben Haim, who was widely criticised for his reaction to the incident, has also been charged

with improper conduct with Bolton confirming they will appeal.

Earlier Thursday, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson claimed the Football Association's discplinary procedures were "flawed and immoral.

Ferguson said: "The violent conduct charge bemuses me because every man and his dog would agree it was not violent conduct. If it is violent conduct why are they charging Ben Haim? I can't understand it.

"If it is violent conduct, Ben Haim should not be charged. He is being charged so they therefore believe he is guilty of diving and bringing the game into disrepute.

"It was no more than a push in the face, there was no swing of the arm or anything like that. The system is completely flawed."

Rooney's ban leaves United short of firepower with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha both currently sidelined through injury.

While Ferguson would like the

disciplinary system updated, United captain Roy Keane is anxious for things to change on the pitch.

"A lot of players seem to be looking to be getting players booked or sent off. That is something that has crept in over the last year or two," said Keane.

"There are a lot of cases where players are reacting and trying to get fellow professionals into trouble. It is disgraceful.

"It needs to stop. The PFA and the FA need to look at the situation. Lots of stuff goes on in a game. If you went down every time a player touched you, every player would be down.

"But you see it every weekend -when players do get touched, they are going down.

"They are trying to con the referee, con their fellow players and con the crowd.

"It is driving me crazy seeing them trying to get players in trouble."