Rooney blames pills for intoxication arrest

Wayne Rooney was arrested in America for “public swearing and intoxication” last month and ordered to pay a $25 fine, court records have revealed.

The DC United star and former England football captain was apprehended by Washington Airport Authority police officers on December 16 in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Public swearing and intoxication is categorised as a minor offence, known as a class 4 misdemeanour in the US. He was released without bail and paid the small fine on January 4, according to legal documents.

It was unclear whether or not the 33 year-old was picked up at the airport but the striker had posted a photo of himself at an event in Saudi Arabia in the days before the arrest.

The Manchester United captain, was also arrested in September 2017 for driving under the influence in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England.

He pleaded guilty and received a two-year driving ban and paid a £170 fine. Rooney also agreed to undergo a drink-driving rehabilitation that could reduce his driving ban.

In 2018, he began a three-and-a-half year contract with MLS team DC United, scoring 12 goals to drag the team into the playoffs.

His spokesman said the footballer was apprehended after a lengthy flight from the Gulf state where he was on a one-day business trip.

“During the flight Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and was disorientated on arrival. He was approached by police who arrested him on a minor misdemeanour charge,” the spokesman said.

“He received a statutory automatic fine and was released shortly afterwards at the airport. The matter is now at an end. Wayne would like to put on record his appreciation for the manner he was treated.”

Rooney, who is still banned from driving in the UK after he was caught drink-driving, set off the alarm but did not breach airport security, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police said.

“Mr Rooney was charged with public intoxication and transported to Loudoun County Detention Centre to be held until sober,” a statement added.