Wayne Rooney was allegedly asked by Roy Hodgson to speak to Jamie Vardy about his wife during the Euro 2016 tournament, the High Court heard.
During the "Wagatha Christie" trial, where Rebekah Vardy is suing Coleen Rooney for libel, the court heard that the former England captain Mr Rooney was asked by Roy Hodgson to speak to his fellow team mate to ask his wife to "calm down." The claims were heard in the Royal Courts of Justice as Mr Rooney gave evidence from the witness box today, on Tuesday, May 17.
Mr Rooney told the court that he had been asked to speak to Mr Vardy by Mr Hodgson and his then assistant manager Gary Neville. He said: "They asked me, as captain, would I be able to speak to Mr Vardy on issues regarding his wife and I think we all knew that it was an awkward subject.
"I'd need to speak to Mr Vardy and ask him to speak to his wife and ask him to say to ask his wife to calm down." Hugh Tomlinson QC, for Mrs Vardy, said: "Ask his wife to calm down? She wasn't dancing on tables."
Wayne Rooney replied: "No, she wasn't, as far as I'm aware." Mr Rooney said there had been negative media coverage.
He said: "I was asked to speak to Mr Vardy by the England manager and I carried out that instruction. It was an awkward situation for me and I'm sure it was an awkward situation for Mr Vardy, but I felt it was in the best interests of the team."
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