Wayne Rooney and his family have been questioned for swimming with a captive dolphin while on a recent holiday in Dubai.
The Derby manager, 36, was recently pictured in a pool with a protected animal alongside his wife Coleen, 36, and sons Kai (12), Klay (nine), Kit (six) and Cass (four). They were seen stroking the dolphin - a £150-a-head attraction at the Atlantis Dolphin Bay resort.
Rooney and his family jetted off to Dubai shortly before Coleen's libel trail with Rebekah Vardy - the wife of Leicester striker Jamie - was completed at the High Court of Justice. A verdict on the highly-publicised case is expected within the next two weeks.
"Unfortunately, the industry is profiting billions from keeping dolphins in barren, concrete tanks 200,000 times smaller than their natural space," Peter Kempl-Hardy, who represents animal rights charity World Animal Protection, told The Sun.
Kempl-Hardy believes the Rooneys have been misled about the attraction. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) - another animal rights charity - claim the dolphins have been confined for decades to "tiny, chlorinated tanks and groped by strangers".
Mirror Football have contacted Wayne Rooney's representatives for comment.
Rooney is set to return to Derby ahead of the club's League One campaign. The East Midlands side were relegated from the Championship last season amid severe financial troubles. They are in administration and looking to find a buyer to stay in business.
US businessman Chris Kirchner recently withdrew his bid to buy Derby. "We're aware some will be concerned by this news," said a spokesperson for the joint-administrators
"However, the joint administrators wish to reassure the club's staff, players and supporters they are continuing to actively engage with a growing number of interested parties, each of whom have a real willingness to complete a deal as soon as possible."
Was Wayne Rooney misled by Atlantis Dolphin Bay resort? Have your say in the comments!
Coleen, meanwhile, is preparing for the outcome of her libel trial with Rebekah. She accused Vardy's wife of leaking information to The Sun newspaper in October 2019, with fans labelling Coleen 'Wagatha Christie' - a combination of the term WAG (footballers' wives and girlfriends) and renowned crime novelist Agatha Christie.
As exclusively revealed by The Mirror, Coleen is confident she'll win the case. "After the trial, Coleen had a cup of tea and packed her bags for holiday, confident she had won," said a close friend. "She has told friends she will be vindicated and she feels relieved that her truth is out there. This whole saga has been very painful.
"She isn’t counting her chickens as she knows the ultimate decision lies with the judge – but she’s adamant she has told the truth throughout and that justice will prevail... Coleen knew Rebekah’s reputation was going to be ripped apart, she wanted to help her and not let that happen. She wanted to sort it before it went to court and she didn’t want to see Rebekah destroyed."
