Rooney burned in effigy in southern England

By foxsports
Published

After letting down the nation, England striker Wayne Rooney has gone up in smoke.

An effigy of the 24-year-old Rooney was burned on Saturday as part of annual bonfire celebrations in England, where he was still blamed for underperforming at the World Cup.

England crashed out of South Africa 2010 in the second round and Rooney was forced to apologize after one match for shouting into a TV camera: "Nice to see your home fans boo you. That's what loyal support is."

Some fans haven't forgiven him - especially Manchester United followers who saw their star striker last month threaten to leave the club, blaming its lack of ambition before signing a new five-year deal.

He was already dealing with the fallout from allegations he cheated on his wife with a prostitute.

Several hundred people watched the effigy in a United jersey burn in the southern English town of Edenbridge on Saturday.

Towns across Britain light bonfires and set off fireworks every year to commemorate the failure of a Nov. 5 plot to blow up parliament and King James I in 1605.

Bonfires are traditionally topped with an effigy of conspirator Guy Fawkes but have been decorated with contemporary figures over recent years.