Rooney fined over night out

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been fined the equivalent of a week’s wages by the Premier League club for a night out over the Christmas weekend, according to press reports on Monday.

Rooney was dropped by United ahead of their shock 3-2 home loss to Blackburn last Saturday, officially because of fitness concerns.

But several British newspapers reported that the star was punished for a below par training session on December 27 after a Boxing Day evening out with wife Coleen and team mates Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson against team orders.

Rooney was fined approximately £200 000 with defender Evans and midfielder Gibson also fined, the reports said.

The trio were then ordered by manager Sir Alex Ferguson to come in on Wednesday—a day off—and train on their own. United play Newcastle next Wednesday.—AFP