Wayne Rooney charged with public intoxication: spokesman says sleeping pill contributed to episode
- Former England captain arrested for public intoxication last month and fined US$25 last Friday
- He is serving a two-year UK drink driving ban stemming from a September 2017 arrest
Former England captain Wayne Rooney’s US arrest last month for public intoxication resulted from mixing prescribed medication and alcohol, a spokesman told British media on Sunday.
Court records obtained by Washington ABC 7 News and The Athletic showed that the former Manchester United star, who now plays for DC United in Major League Soccer, was arrested by police at Dulles International Airport, located in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, on December 16.
Rooney, who was returning from a promotional trip to Saudi Arabia, was charged with misdemeanour public intoxication and swearing in Loudon County, Virginia, and released on his own recognisance before paying a US$25 fine and court costs last Friday.
“During the flight Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and consequently was disoriented on arrival,” his spokesman said.
“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.