Next year, striker Wayne Rooney will return to his homeland after a year and a half spent in the American club “DC United”. The best scorer in the history of the England national team will become a playing coach at the Derby County club, representing the Championship - the second strongest division. The parties have already agreed on a transfer, and Rooney even managed to reserve a game number for himself. However, this formal event for the players provoked a scandal over which the Football Association of England (FA) could initiate an investigation into the attacker.

Rooney chose for himself the 32nd number, under which he had never performed before. The change of numbers on the T-shirt would have remained unnoticed by anyone, except for the Derby County fans, if it were not for one circumstance that accompanied the transition of the striker to a new club for himself. The transfer was funded by the British bookmaker 32Red. Rooney entered into an agreement with her, according to which he becomes the company's ambassador.

Delighted to announce I'll be joining @dcfcofficial as player coach in January 🙂 # WR32pic.twitter.com / K5nVbhgopy

- Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) August 6, 2019

The choice of such a number in England was considered a publicity stunt that circumvents the existing rules regarding bookmakers and gambling. Club sponsors may advertise their t-shirts with an area of ​​not more than 100 square meters. see. However, the number "32", written in huge numbers on the back of Rooney, will stand out against all other logos and will not transparently hint to the fans which company the football player advertises.

Rooney was criticized by former Secretary of Sports of Great Britain Richard Caborne, in which an act regulating the advertising of bookmakers was adopted in 2005. He warned the player against possible consequences.

“This move is not very smart. In general, all this seems a little ridiculous. Rooney himself has children, and he probably should understand that taking such a number is not a good idea. Now the betting companies have to promote themselves, but neither the football leadership nor the government will like this, ”Caborn told The Telegraph.

Shadow sports minister Rosena Ellin-Khan, whose opposition Labor party wants to completely remove the advertising of betting companies from football equipment, also spoke out disapprovingly about Rooney's chosen number.

“This relationship is out of control. Player names become synonymous with gambling. Wayne Rooney’s move to Derby County, sponsored by the sponsor, has brought the issue to a whole new level, ”Allyn-Khan told The Times.

Rooney himself noted that he did not see a problem in his chosen number, as he had often changed numbers before.

“To be honest, the number on the T-shirt does not matter to me. My career has had many different numbers - 18, 8, 9, 10, 23 and now 32. It is important for me to return to England and help the team, ”the footballer said.

He was supported by the owner of Derby County Mel Morris, who said that Rooney's transfer opens up “wide and significant commercial opportunities” for the team.

It is worth noting that half of the teams of the English Premier League advertise betting companies on their T-shirts, as well as 14 of the 24 clubs of the first division, the title sponsor of which is also a betting company.

According to The Telegraph, the Football Association of England will check if Rooney’s choice violates the 32nd game number of the existing rules. However, the investigation will not be able to begin earlier than January next year, when the player will enter the field with a scandalous number on his back. Until then, the association will only follow the development of events.

Rooney’s move to Derby County from DC United became known on August 6, and this transfer was a big surprise for football fans. The best English scorer had a good game in the MLS championship. He was the captain of a team from Washington, spent 43 matches in one calendar year, scored 23 goals and gave 14 assists. Some of his goals became real masterpieces and delighted fans in Europe.

However, this summer, British media reported that the Rooney family is unhappy in the United States and wants to return to their homeland. Soon there was talk of a possible move to Derby County, with which the footballer had not previously been associated. Although the transfer to the club of the first division from MLS may seem like a step back in terms of sports, financially Rooney will only benefit from such a step. His salary in England will be about 100 thousand pounds per week - this is more than what he receives in the United States, and five times higher than the average earned by the players of the second English division.

Another factor that influenced the end of a successful American career and the transition to the not-so-strong English club was the opportunity to join in coaching. Rooney will not only play for Derby County, but will also enter the headquarters of team coach Philip Koku. Thus, the player wants to gain experience and, after completing a career, smoothly switch to coaching.

True, Rooney will be able to test herself in a new role only six months later. He will finish the season at MLS, and only then will his contract with Derby County come into force, designed for a year and a half with the possibility of extension for another season.