Wayne Rooney Calls Reaction to Recent Behaviour 'Disgraceful'

Wayne Rooney has hit back fiercely to criticism he has received for his behaviour while on international duty, branding the reaction to published photographs of him apparently partying in the early hours of last Sunday a disgrace.

Per Dominic Fifield in the Guardian, the England captain apologised to the Football Association earlier this week after the Sun published photographs of him in a Three Lions training shirt socialising with wedding guests at the team's Watford hotel and reportedly drinking.

Rooney, along with the rest of the England squad, had been given time off by interim manager Gareth Southgate following a 3-0 win over Scotland, per the Guardian's Andy Hunter.

After playing a part only from the bench in Manchester United's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday, the 31-year-old Rooney was in a less apologetic mood.

He bemoaned a lack of respect shown and called for an end to the post-mortem on his perceived transgression, per David McDonnell in the Mirror:

"

What's been going on is disgraceful. I'm proud to play for my country and I'm proud of my achievements. It's not finished yet.

[...]

I think what's been going on is disgraceful. It shows a lack of respect and I think enough is enough. That's all I want to say.

"

BBC Match of the Day's Garth Crooks had voiced a similar opinion, branding the revelations a "non-story":

However, there have also been reports that Rooney could be stripped of the England captaincy due to the controversy, per Dave Kidd and Neil Ashton in the Sun. 

Clearly, Rooney is now eager for the matter to be put to bed.

England's next fixtures are not until March next year—a friendly against Germany followed by a FIFA World Cup qualifier with Lithuania.

The national side also remain without a permanent manager, with Southgate set to be interviewed for the role, per BBC Sport's Phil McNulty.

Given that such a key decision needs to be made about the future of the England team, Rooney will hope the furore surrounding him in the last week will now disappear.