ROONEY U.S. BOOZE SHAME
Held by cops for being intoxicated at airport
WAYNE Rooney was arrested by armed police for being drunk at Washington airport.
The England legend had downed booze and sleeping tablets on a flight from Saudi Arabia. Police said: “He was charged with intoxication.”
His spokesman claimed the drink and pills left him “disorientated”.
WAYNE Rooney may have put lucrative sponsorship deals and even his marriage at risk with his latest boozy transgression, experts warned last night.
The former England striker was arrested at a US airport for being intoxicated and abusive after arriving on a flight from Saudi Arabia and “triggering a door alarm”.
It is not known whether Coleen, 32, knew about her husband’s arrest in Washington, where he now plays for Major League Soccer’s DC United.
Roo was taken into custody after being held. He was later pictured bleary-eyed and appearing to wear orange detention-centre clothing.
He had downed mixed drinks and a sleeping pill, which left him “disorientated”, his spokesman said.
The 33-year-old, who earns £300,000 a week in America, was fined £20 and ordered to pay £71.50 costs.
But the episode could put pressure on sponsors who have stood by him
throughout his numerous scandals. US brand executive Thomas Rogers said last night: “Nowhere in the world is a clean-cut image more important to a sports star than in America.
“The merest hint that a brand could be brought into disrepute is enough to see multi-million-dollar deals ended. Rooney will have to expiate himself if big names are to want to put their brands and their buck behind him.”
The former Manchester United and Everton star’s boot sponsorship deal with Nike is reportedly worth £1million a year to him. In August, he signed a multi-million pound marketing deal in the US, making him one of the MLS’s highest earners.
The family promotions contract was with marketing giant Octagon – which also works with US basketball star Stephen Curry and ex- swimmer Michael Phelps. After Rooney was linked to escorts Helen Wood and Jenny Thompson in 2011, Coca-Cola axed its £600,000-a-year deal with him. They had been one of his four main sponsors, along with Nike, Harper Collins and EA Sports, in contracts worth more than £2.5million. Coleen has stood by Rooney throughout his off-field problems. She was pregnant when he met Wood and Thompson.
Then in September 2017, while at Everton, he was caught drink-driving alongside party girl Laura Simpson. His wife was expecting their fourth child at the time.
Coleen was away on holiday with her family in Majorca but cut the trip short to confront her husband.
Friends fear his latest indiscretion my damage his marriage.
A source said: “Whenever Coleen is not around it seems Wayne tends to go off the rails. She had hoped moving to America would see a fresh start for the family putting behind Wayne’s previous problems.
“Coleen loves the lifestyle in the States. She can go about her business without anyone knowing who she is. But this latest arrest just pours more shame on them.”
Days before his arrest, Rooney had attended a White House Christmas Party as guest of Donald Trump and son Barron with Coleen and their boys. On December 14, he posted a picture of himself on his Instagram account sat on a private jet on his way to Saudi Arabia.
Three days later, Coleen revealed a snap of Rooney with their sons writing “lovely surprise to come home to” indicating they had returned to the UK for Christmas.
Rooney was taken to Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in
Nowhere is a clean-cut image more important to a sports star than in America
THOMAS ROGERS US BRAND EXECUTIVE ON ROONEY SCANDAL
Virginia, which is close to Washington Dulles Airport where he was arrested on a “profane swearing and intoxication in public” offence.
Customs officers noticed his eyes were red while showing signs he was impaired through alcohol after the flight on December 16.
His spokesman said: “Wayne Rooney was arrested and detained at Dulles airport following a long flight from Saudi Arabia after a one-day promotional business trip.
“During the flight, Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and consequently was disorientated on arrival.
“He was approached by police who arrested him on a minor misdemeanour charge.
“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 by all involved.”
Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office said Rooney, who lives in the affluent Bethesda area of the city, was “booked in on a charge of public intoxication stemming from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police”. A police spokesman added: “Mr Rooney had triggered a door alarm but did not breach airport security. He was transported to Loudoun County Detention Center to be held until sober.”
A DC United staff member is reported to have picked Roo up a few hours after his arrest.
WAYNE Rooney’s behaviour away from football generates almost as many headlines as his ability on the pitch.
He should count himself fortunate he was arrested in a Washington airport rather than in Saudi Arabia. There he could have been facing more than a small fine.