Wayne Rooney, England's second all-time top scorer, is set to feature as a pundit for the BBC during the World Cup semi-final clash between England and Argentina. The former Manchester United forward has become a regular face on the broadcaster's coverage from the United States as he transitions into post-football life. Rooney's career has been marked by both on-pitch heroics and off-pitch controversies, including cheating scandals, a drink-driving arrest, and a reported £800,000 BBC salary.
Cheating Scandals
Rooney married Coleen in 2008, but their relationship has been tested by multiple infidelity allegations. In 2004, Rooney reportedly visited a brothel in Liverpool and paid for sex with three women aged 21, 37, and 48. He later admitted: 'Foolish as it now seems, I did on occasions visit massage parlours and prostitutes. I now regret it deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid.'
Coleen revealed in her 2023 autobiography that the couple had not been intimate before the brothel visits. She wrote: 'The truth is, and I’ve never said this before, at that time in our relationship, I’d never even slept with Wayne. I was only 16 and we weren’t having that kind of relationship at that stage.'
Six years later, former escort Helen Wood claimed she had a threesome with Rooney and another woman while Coleen was pregnant with their first son. According to Wood, Rooney said: 'I feel really s*** already – I’m begging you two not to say anything. It will ruin my marriage if it gets out.' Reports indicated Coleen moved out temporarily but later reconciled.
Drink-Driving Arrest
In 2017, after leaving Manchester United, Rooney was arrested and charged with drink driving. He was driving a car belonging to Laura Simpson, whom he had met earlier that night. Simpson told The Sun that Coleen called her after the arrest: 'She asked me to tell her what happened. She seemed unhappy with the fact that we had left a nightclub in a cab together to go to my car.'
In his 2023 documentary, Rooney stated the scandal nearly ended his marriage. Coleen commented: 'I forgive him but it wasn’t acceptable. If it comes up we talk about it like we are talking about it now. I haven’t got the anger I did at the time... Life goes on and I’ve moved on.'
Arrest at US Airport
After signing with DC United in 2018, Rooney was arrested at Dulles Airport for 'public swearing and intoxication' after triggering a door alarm. He paid a $116 (£86) fine. A spokesperson said: 'During the flight, Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and consequently was disoriented 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.'
Huge BBC Salary
In 2025, Rooney signed a two-year deal with the BBC worth a reported £800,000, making him one of the broadcaster's highest-paid pundits. This adds to his estimated £126 million net worth, built from his peak £300,000-a-week wages at Manchester United.
