Vardy puts the boot in over Rooney ‘nonsense’
Ex-england teammates at odds over claims wives were distraction at Euros, ‘Wagatha Christie’ case told
‘I spoke to Mr Vardy and asked him to speak to his wife, to ask his wife to calm down and not bring any issues that were off the field’
THE “Wagatha Christie” libel trial has been a showdown between two footballers’ wives. On day six, it was the turn of the footballers themselves.
Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy, former England teammates, came face to face in the High Court for the first time since the case began, as evidence turned to the team’s Euro 2016 performance.
Rooney told the court that he had been tasked by Roy Hodgson, the England manager, with the “awkward” job of telling Vardy that his wife, Rebekah, was causing “problems and distractions” for the England team due to her love of the limelight.
Vardy’s representatives issued a statement that said no such conversation had taken place. It read: “Wayne is talking nonsense.”
England gave a lacklustre performance during the 2016 tournament, which saw them knocked out by Iceland. Off the pitch, Mrs Vardy’s enthusiasm for appearing in the tabloids had been noted.
Rooney said his instructions came from Hodgson and Gary Neville, England’s assistant manager.
“They asked me as captain if I would be able to speak to Mr Vardy on issues regarding his wife. I think we all knew it was an awkward subject,” Rooney told the court.
“I spoke to Mr Vardy and asked him to speak to his wife, to ask his wife to calm down and not bring any issues that were off the field.
“It was an awkward situation for me. I’m sure it was an awkward situation for Mr Vardy.”
Rooney also told the court that Mrs Vardy Facetimed her husband so often during the tournament that she “was almost there with the team”.
The FA wanted wives and girlfriends to keep a low profile and avoid the hoopla of the 2006 World Cup, where the “Wags” created a media circus in Baden-baden.
“Becky’s media activities were causing problems and distractions, which the FA wanted to avoid,” Rooney said in his witness statement. “I obviously had bigger things to focus upon at the time but I agreed to speak to Jamie because it was easier than pushing back against the FA.”
Rooney was challenged by Mrs Vardy’s barrister, Hugh Tomlinson QC, who suggested that the conversation with his teammate had never taken place.
But Rooney, now manager of Derby County, insisted: “I’m sat here under oath. I 100 per cent spoke to Mr Vardy… I remember the conversation I had with Jamie. We were sat in a games room – it was set up for the players with a dartboard, pool table, table tennis.
“Mr Vardy had a can of Red Bull. I had a coffee. I remember details of that conversation because it was such an awkward moment.”
Vardy, attending court with his wife for the first time during the case, suggested in his statement that Rooney had mis-remembered the Euro 2016 meeting. It read: “Wayne is talking nonsense. He must be confused because he never spoke to me about issues concerning Becky’s media work at Euro 2016. There was nothing to speak about, I know this because I discuss everything with Becky.”
The warring parties sat feet apart on the same bench in Court 13, separated by Mrs Vardy’s solicitor. The two men exchanged the briefest of nods when they walked into the room before Rooney began his evidence.
Rooney claimed to have known almost no details about the case until he turned up in court last week.
The case continues.