Rooney charged with drink-driving offence
london — Wayne Rooney has been charged with drunk driving and was released on bail ahead of a court appearance later this month, Cheshire police said Friday.
The 31-year-old Everton striker was reportedly stopped by police near his home outside Manchester early on Friday. He is due to appear in court on Sept. 18.
The Everton forward has been charged with driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit.
“The man was arrested shortly after 2.00 a.m. today, Friday 1 September, after officers stopped a black VW Beetle on Altrincham Road, Wilmslow,” Cheshire police said.
Rooney is the all-time leading scorer for England’s national soccer team and for Manchester United. He retired from the national team last month. Rooney rejoined Everton, his first club, this season after 13 years at Old Trafford. He won one Champions League and five Premier League titles while England coach Gareth Southgate wanted Rooney back in the national team after his strong start at Everton, where he scored in his first two Premier League games this season. But the former England captain decided to concentrate on his club career.
Rooney scored 53 goals in 119 appearances for England, and Southgate said last month he thought the striker could have a future as a coach or mentor with the national team setup.
England never made it past the quarterfinals at a major tournament with Rooney on the team, and his struggles on the international stage led many to blame him for his country’s failures.
Rooney became a star at the 2004 European Championship, scoring four goals at the tournament in Portugal when he was still only 18. He broke Bobby Charlton’s 45-year England scoring record in September 2015.
Although Rooney set records with England, his time with the national team was sometimes less distinguished. What turned out to be Rooney’s final appearance — against Scotland in November — was followed by criticism over his late-night revelry in the team hotel. The FA said at the time that Rooney wasn’t living up to his responsibilities as captain after being pictured bleary-eyed at a wedding reception at the hotel when his position in the team was already in doubt.
Erratic behavior has followed Rooney on and off the field throughout his career.