ROONEY SINGLED OUT

Wayne Rooney's seemingly magnetic attraction to controversy resurfaced last night when the Manchester United striker was accused of heaping further ignominy on the England team. He flashed a V-sign at supporters as he boarded the team coach after the 2-0 defeat in Croatia, a performance so abject that it invited mutinous chants of "You're not fit to wear the shirt" and "What a load of rubbish".

The England players were subjected to a stream of invective as they left the Maksimir stadium 45 minutes after the final whistle, directly outside the enclosure where the fans had been kept behind. Rooney is said to have reacted badly to the sustained abuse at a time when he is experiencing his first prolonged slump in form. A TV crew interviewed one supporter at the scene who said he was saddened by Rooney's behaviour and there were further complaints on the team's arrival back in England, with several fans giving their version of events on the Football Association's official website.

"I saw Rooney flash the Vs," Mark Lister claimed. "However, in his defence, he came off the coach and was prepared to listen to one of the fans' constructive comments about us following the team around the world and getting nothing back in terms of passion and commitment. Rooney's reply was 'You come and play then', although I don't think it was said in a negative way."

The Independent claims that the moron England fan showed his true colours towards Rooney.

Though Rooney was condemned on England supporters' websites yesterday, several witnesses close to the player insist the diatribe was ignored until the supporter pulled down his zip, grabbed his penis and loudly informed the Manchester United striker that he wished to urinate on him. Rooney is then alleged to have raised two fingers at his odious aggressor.

However a spokesman for Rooney said:” Any gesture Wayne may have made was directed to one, and only one, particular England fan, whose behaviour towards him appalled the other England players who saw it and horrified the rest of the England fans.

"Wayne has total respect for England fans. He accepts and understands their disappointment at Wednesday night's result."