LONDON: Former England captain Wayne Rooney has been charged with a drink-driving offence, Cheshire police said in a statement on Friday.
Rooney, 31, has been released on bail and is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on September 18.
The Everton forward has been charged with driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit.
“The man was arrested shortly after 2:00 am Friday 1 September, after officers stopped a black VW Beetle on Altrincham Road, Wilmslow,” Cheshire police said.
Rooney announced last month he was retiring from national team duty, ending a 14-year stint in which he became the country’s top scorer with 53 goals.
In July Rooney returned to Everton, his boyhood club, after 13 years with Manchester United. He has scored twice so far this season for the Merseyside team.
Everton did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident.
Rooney, England’s all-time record goal-scorer, announced his retirement from international football last week, having scored 53 goals in 119 appearances for his country.
He made his decision despite England manager Gareth Southgate offering to recall him for the World Cup qualifier against Malta on Friday.
Rooney scored in his first two Premier League games of the 2017/18 campaign, with the forward on target last month in a 1-0 win over Stoke City and again in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City.