Wayne Rooney has apologised “unreservedly” to the Football Association after he was photographed socialising in the early hours of Sunday morning – with the governing body vowing to review its policy of granting players downtime during international breaks.
Rooney spoke with the FA’s technical director, Dan Ashworth, and the national team’s permanent manager-in-waiting, Gareth Southgate, on Wednesday expressing regret for his actions over the weekend. Southgate had granted his squad time off after training on Saturday morning in the wake of their World Cup qualifying victory against Scotland, with the players not due to reconvene until a session on Sunday afternoon at Tottenham Hotspur.
Photographs have since been published of Rooney, sporting an England training top, speaking with guests at a wedding party at the team’s hotel in Watford, with the Sun claiming the Manchester United and England captain had been drinking.
“Although it was a day off for the whole squad and staff, Wayne fully recognises that the images are inappropriate for someone in his position,” said the player’s spokesman. “Wayne spoke privately to both Gareth Southgate and Dan Ashworth to unreservedly apologise. He would like to further extend that apology to any young fans who have seen these pictures.”
Southgate had never intended to start Rooney in the friendly against Spain on Tuesday but, as it was, the 31-year-old complained of discomfort in a knee on Sunday and underwent a scan at a private hospital in Watford on Monday. He was duly released back to United, returning to the Carrington training ground on Tuesday, although the club are confident he will be available for their Premier League game against Arsenal on Saturday.
The FA was disappointed with Rooney’s behaviour and having reminded the England captain of his responsibilities, will speak to other members of the support and coaching staff who were understood to be present. It now intends to reassess its policy of granting players overnight free time in the middle of international get-togethers.
“All England personnel have a responsibility to behave appropriately at all times,” an FA spokesman said. “We will be reviewing our policy around free time whilst on international duty.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Southgate who while making it clear he had granted his squad permission to use the time as they pleased, would examine the scheduling for team link-ups if appointed permanently. “They trained Saturday morning and again on Sunday afternoon and I gave the players a period of time off [in between],” he said. “There were lots of changes we made to routines. Some things we felt, OK, we should keep the same and I will have to review … or maybe I won’t have to review … somebody will have to review.”
Rooney, who had been dropped for the first time in a 13-year international career for the qualifier in Slovenia last month after a difficult start with club and country this term, had captained the side against Scotland and supplied Gary Cahill with an assist for their third goal. His release from the set-up on Monday was on medical rather than disciplinary grounds, though the timing of the photographs is unfortunate given how his position within the senior team has come under real scrutiny in recent times. The matter will be dealt with internally as per the players’ code of conduct, introduced in 2012, but it seems unlikely it will lead to Rooney being stripped of the captaincy.
England’s record goalscorer and out-field cap holder has expressed his own disappointment that the photographs were made public. “Wayne, along with the rest of the England squad, was on a night off duty,” his spokesman added. “Rather than going out, he chose to stay at the team hotel to relax and celebrate a fine England victory against Scotland. During the course of the evening he was approached by numerous fellow guests for autographs and pictures.
“As he has always been, Wayne was happy to sign, pose for photos and chat with guests. It is sad that one or two of them have now sought to turn Wayne’s friendly, good nature to their advantage.”
