Rooney threatens lawsuit after Carroll's biography allegations

In a letter to the publisher, sent by his lawyers, the 37‑year‑old Wayne Rooney, still playing for FC Dagenham & Redbridge, threatens to launch a lawsuit against former compatriot Andy Carroll over accusing passages in Carroll's upcoming biography.

Carroll's accusations in the biography

The Sun report says that Carroll claims Rooney invited players to his room to drink during English training camps in 2010 and 2011, surrounded by boxes of cigarettes, crates of beer and bottles of wine. “Wayne is furious. He means it seriously,” the tabloid quotes an insider as saying. The biography also states that Rooney's room quickly became full of teammates.

Rooney's legal response

Rooney's legal team has, according to The Sun, sent a sharp letter to the publisher demanding that the disputed passages be fully retracted because they are “completely false”. “He wants the article withdrawn because it is completely false. It is a matter of principle,” the letter reads.

If no public apology or withdrawal comes, the case could, according to reports, end up in court. Carroll did not expect the matter to escalate in this way and saw his book as a way to generate attention.

The two former English strikers played together for the national team between 2010 and 2012, but only appeared side‑by‑side in two internationals. Rooney, who according to one source is 37 years old and according to another source is now forty, has earned 120 caps for England and scored 53 goals, while Carroll has nine caps.