WASHINGTON: Wayne Rooney was arrested and fined in the United States last month for public intoxication and swearing.

The former England and Manchester United captain, who now plays for Major League Soccer’s DC United, was arrested on December 16 at the Dulles International Airport.

A spokesman for Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Rooney was taken into custody “on a charge of public intoxication stemming from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police”.

The spokesman added: “He was later released on a personal recognizance bond.”

Rooney was detained after returning from Saudi Arabia where he attended the opening race of the Formula E season near Riyadh. Three days later he returned home to the UK for the Christmas holiday. Subsequently he paid a $25 fine with $91 costs.

The offence carries a maximum fine of $250.

A club statement said: “We are aware of news reports indicating that Wayne Rooney was arrested in December. We understand the media’s interest in this matter but we believe this is a private matter for Wayne that DC United will handle internally. We have no further comment on this situation.”

The incident is the latest off-field incident in Rooney’s rollercoaster career which saw him score a record 50 goaals for England between 2003 and last November when he played his 120th and last international as a substitute in a 3-0 win over the United States at Wembley.

#################