Police drop Rooney investigation
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-31 09:55

Police have dropped an investigation into claims that Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney had assaulted a man in a nightclub.

Rooney is pictured during a training session, March 22, 2005. [Reuters]

Officers in Manchester launched the inquiry after a student said the 19-year-old player had attacked him at a bar in the city centre on March 22.

Media reports said Rooney had reacted after being taunted by the 22-year-old student about his controversial 27 million pound transfer from Everton last year.

But police said on Wednesday that the student had now said he did not want to press charges against Rooney, who shot to fame by scoring four goals to help England reach the quarter-finals of the Euro 2004 soccer tournament.

"A retraction statement was taken from the man and officers will not be pursuing the matter any further," police said in a statement.

The news gives Rooney a boost before England's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan later on Wednesday.

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