Coca-cola Severs Ties With Wayne Rooney
Coca-Cola has ended its sponsorship contract with Wayne Rooney meaning that the England and Manchester United striker will no longer be used to promote the Coke Zero brand.
The decision comes following a spate of negative press surrounding Rooney culminating in the striker swearing into the TV cameras after scoring a hat-trick against West Ham United last weekend – a move that has resulted in a two-match ban.
The soft drink brand signed Rooney in 2005, on a rolling £370,000 a year sponsorship deal, but the company has now confirmed that it will not be renewing the contract.
According to media reports, the company has become increasingly frustrated with Rooney’s controversial attitude, most recently with the striker’s infamous foul-mouthed celebration, which was broadcast live at Saturday lunchtime.
Rooney admitted a charge of using foul and abusive language but is appealing against a two-match ban handed down by the Football Association.
A Coca-Cola spokesman said: ‘We mutually agreed that we would not renew our relationship. We wish Wayne well in his career’.
The Manchester United player still has sponsorship deals with Nike and EA Sports.
