Wayne Rooney was arrested on public intoxication and swearing charges in the US before Christmas – but the footballer has blamed sleeping pills.
The former Manchester United player, who now plays for US team DC United, was charged on 16 December.
Rooney, who is 15 months into a drink-driving ban in the UK, was released without bail in the US.
In a statement released by his spokesman to the Press Association, the footballer said he had been left “disorientated” by prescribed sleeping tablets he took on a flight while drinking.
“Wayne Rooney was arrested and detained at Dulles airport following a long flight from Saudi Arabia after a one-day promotional business trip,” the statement said.
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.”
The day before Rooney was arrested in America, the star tweeted a picture of himself in Saudi Arabia and wrote that he was having “an unbelievable day at Riyadh Formula E Saudi Arabia Grand”.
A spokesman for Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office had earlier said: “He was booked into the Loudoun County Adult Detention Centre on 16 December 2018, on a charge of public intoxication stemming from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police (MWAA).
“He was later released on a personal recognisance bond.”
In 2018, the former England captain began a three-and-a-half year contract with MLS team DC United.
Rooney is being paid something in the region of £46m for his multi-year deal, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league’s history.
In September 2017, the footballer was arrested by Cheshire police after being caught driving over the drink-drive limit.
He was banned from driving for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work.
He was nearly three times over the limit when he was pulled over by police at 2.10am on 1 September 2017.
After he was banned from driving in the UK, he tweeted an apology to his family and fans.
He said: “Following today’s court hearing I want publicly to apologise for my unforgivable lack of judgement in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong.
“I have already said sorry to my family, my manager and chairman and everyone at Everton FC. Now I want to apologise to all the fans and everyone else who has followed and supported me throughout my career.
“Of course I accept the sentence of the court and hope that I can make some amends through my community service.”
Speaking to Sky News last August upon his arrival to the US, he said he was relieved about not being a recognisable face in America.
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Source: Sky News
