Another footballer plays away... and lets down his wife again

WE know that, generally speaking, footballers aren't overly endowed with brains, and such brains as they have tend to be located in their boots.

But even among the witless sex capers of certain England footballers and their legendary inability to keep their manhood in their trousers, Wayne Rooney's alleged antics are particularly bad. They appear to be proof positive that he has fallen victim to the malaise that seems to infect many top footballers, who seem to think they are above all normal beings when it comes to operating any sense of moral duty.

If the latest stories about Rooney are true, they show that where he should have a sense of pride and dignity, and feelings of loyalty, mutual trust and devotion to his wife Coleen and his adored baby son Kai, he appears only to have a tankful of testosterone, a wad of cash and a sense of his own entitlement to satisfy every whim no matter who he might hurt.

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Eight years ago, the then Coleen McLoughlin forgave Rooney his alleged romps with a prostitute because they were both still so young, their relationship had not yet become serious, and he promised he would not hurt her again. Since then Rooney has become Manchester United's and England's hottest property – although all we saw in South Africa was spoilt brat Wayne ranting at the fans who had booed in disappointment, the same fans who pay much of his ridiculous pay cheque.

Coleen has also become Mrs Rooney and taken over Victoria Beckham's mantle as the Queen of the WAGs.

The Rooneys share a 4.5m Cheshire mansion with the baby who was born last November and Coleen talks about having more kids with her boy-child husband. Recent glimpses of the 24-year-old couple and Kai splashing in the Caribbean surf may appear to tally with some spun sugar view of Wayne Rooney as a mature and responsible adult, but they are more likely to be evidence that the camera can and sometimes does lie. I seem to remember Rooney talking about responsible behaviour, growing up and being a good role model – to his son and other young boys. Pah, words are so easy.

No-one's saying he doesn't love his wife and child and wouldn't walk through fire for them. But behind the show of happy families are hints that, as has apparently happened with so many other footballers and their wives, the fairytale is very much constructed

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on the basis of the player always dictating the terms and the female putting up and shutting up.

Rooney allegedly had a series of assignations with a prostitute while Coleen was pregnant last year. According to the woman, Jenny Thompson, he paid between 500 and 1,000 each time and apparently said: "Don't go and tell anyone." Months after he last saw her, surprise surprise, the woman has told the story – almost certainly for money.

In the world of football, players who transgress with prostitutes or otherwise cheat on their partners are generally indulged – especially if they're delivering on the pitch. Fabio Capello stripped John Terry of the England captaincy after revelations of an alleged affair, but his wife Toni took him back and Terry continues to enjoy a fat salary, sponsorship and all the other trappings.

The idea that women are a commodity to be used, abused and discarded seems to be embedded in the top echelons of football culture. Clubs have worked so hard to stamp out the curse of racism and foul language on the terraces, but they seem to do nothing to educate their young players on the evils of sexism, for that's what this insidious attitude problem is about. Managers try to tame wild and thoughtless young men by encouraging them to settle down, but tend to turn a blind eye when boys-only parties

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still degenerate into all-night sessions involving call girls. Everyone knows the score.

Young women like Toni Terry and Coleen Rooney should surely take a moment to ask what good they are doing themselves or their stupid menfolk if they take them back and continue with the glossy, paper-thin charade.

Coleen, he may find himself inundated with offers from other young women if you dump him, but Wayne will never find a woman as solid and true as you who have known him since he was no-one and wanted nothing more than to share a bag of chips with him.

But, if the allegations prove true, staying with this immature, unreconstructed child is probably the worst damage

you could inflict on yourself

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and your son. Men of little brain don't learn unless punished severely – and what incentive would Wayne have to behave if you forgave this time? The other question is how you could live with yourself.