Wayne Rooney arrested for public intoxication in Washington

Former England footballer claims mix of sleeping pills and alcohol 'disorientated' him at Virginia airport on December 16

English football player Wayne Rooney's arrest mugshot provided by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Reuters

Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney's arrest for public intoxication was due to him taking sleeping tablets while drinking alcohol on a flight, according to his spokesman.

Rooney was arrested at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on December 16, for being drunk and swearing in public, after returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia.

The 33-year-old was charged and paid a $25 fine and $91 costs on January 4, according to court documents from Loudoun General District Court.

His spokesman said: "During the flight, Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol 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 [in which] he was treated by all involved."

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Rooney, who now plays for Major League Soccer's DC United, was banned from driving for two years and sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 120 hours of unpaid work, in 2017 after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

The forward moved to the US in June 2018 and helped guide his new club, who finished bottom of the league the previous season, to the play-offs where Rooney missed a penalty during a shoot-out defeat to Columbus Crew.

Rooney, who was the centrepiece of DC United's marketing campaign last season as the team moved into a new stadium, said on his arrival he was looking forward to the relative anonymity afforded by suburban life in the US.

The club said on Sunday that they were aware of the incident but would be dealing with the matter "internally" and would be making no further comment.