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The "Wagatha Christie" libel trial has been a showdown between two footballer’s wives. On day six, it was the turn of the footballers themselves.
Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy, former England teammates, came face-to-face in the High Court for the first time since the case began, as the evidence turned to the team’s Euro 2016 performance.
Mr Rooney told the court that he had been tasked by the England manager, Roy Hodgson, with the “awkward” job of telling Mr Vardy that his wife, Rebekah, was causing “problems and distractions” for the England team due to her love of the limelight.
Mr Vardy’s representatives issued a statement which said no such conversation had taken place. It read: “Wayne is talking nonsense.”
England gave a lacklustre performance during the 2016 tournament, which saw them knocked out by Iceland.
Off the pitch, Mrs Vardy’s enthusiasm for appearing in the tabloids, including her own column in The Sun, had been noted.
Mr Rooney said his instructions came from Hodgson and Gary Neville, England’s assistant manager.
'Awkward situation'
“They asked me as captain if I would be able to speak to Mr Vardy on issues regarding his wife. I think we all knew it was an awkward subject,” Mr Rooney told the court.
“I spoke to Mr Vardy and asked him to speak to his wife, to ask his wife to calm down and not bring any issues that were off the field.”
He added: “It was an awkward situation for me. I’m sure it was an awkward situation for Mr Vardy.”
Mr Rooney also told the court that Mrs Vardy FaceTimed her husband so often during the tournament that she “was almost there with the team”.
The FA wanted wives and girlfriends to keep a low profile and avoid the hoopla of the 2006 World Cup, where the “WAGs” created a media circus in Baden-Baden.
“Becky’s media activities were causing problems and distractions which the FA wanted to avoid,” Mr Rooney said in his witness statement. “I obviously had bigger things to focus upon at the time but I agreed to speak to Jamie because it was easier than pushing back against the FA.”
Mr Rooney was challenged by Mrs Vardy’s barrister, Hugh Tomlinson QC, who suggested that the conversation with his team-mate had never taken place.
“Ask his wife to calm down? She wasn’t dancing on tables,” Mr Tomlinson said.
“No, she wasn’t - as far as I’m aware,” Mr Rooney replied.
But Mr Rooney, now manager of Derby County, insisted: “I’m sat here under oath. I 100 per cent spoke to Mr Vardy. If he wants to speak to his wife and relay it back to her, that’s his business.
“I remember the conversation I had with Jamie. We were sat in a games room - it was set up for the players with a dartboard, pool table, table tennis. Mr Vardy had a can of Red Bull; I had a coffee. I remember details of that conversation because it was such an awkward moment."
'I discuss everything with Becky'
Mr Vardy, attending court with his wife for the first time during the case, suggested in his statement that Mr Rooney had misremembered the Euro 2016 meeting. It read: “Wayne is talking nonsense.
“He must be confused because he never spoke to me about issues concerning Becky’s media work at Euro 2016. There was nothing to speak about, I know this because I discuss everything with Becky.”
Mr Vardy held his wife’s hand as he walked into court. Mr Rooney held his wife’s handbag.
The warring parties sat feet apart on the same bench in Court 13, separated by Mrs Vardy’s solicitor. The two men exchanged the briefest of nods when they walked into the room before Mr Rooney began his evidence. Mrs Rooney frequently shot dark looks in Mrs Vardy’s direction.
Mr Rooney said his wife conducted her ‘Wagatha Christie’ investigation - posting fake Instagram stories which only Mrs Vardy could see - without his knowledge.
He also claimed to have known almost no details about the case until he turned up in court last week.
'My wife is an independent woman who does her own thing'
“I didn’t want to get involved. My wife is an independent woman who does her own thing. I help my wife with our four children. Social media is the least of my worries,” Mr Rooney said.
He was in the US and his wife was in England when he saw her 2019 Instagram post, which alleged that Rebekah Vardy’s account was responsible for the tabloid leaks.
“That was the first knowledge I had of that. It was a surprise to me that my wife had put the post out,” he said.
“Me sitting in this courtroom this week is the first time I’m hearing almost everything in this case. I have never discussed it with my wife.”
Mr Rooney said the case had taken its toll on his wife.
“I don’t think anyone wants to be in court. Certainly, me and my wife don’t want to be in court,” he said.
“I have watched my wife over the past two-and-a-half years really struggle with what’s gone on. She has become a different mother, a different wife. It has been very traumatic for my wife during this situation.
“Hopefully, whatever the judgement is, my wife, myself and our children can go on and live our lives.”
The case continues.
