Wayne Rooney was arrested after a flight from Saudi Arabia to Washington on December 16, accused of public intoxication and swearing. 

The former Manchester United player has blamed prescribed sleeping pills mixed with alcohol consumption on the flight from the Middle East after attending the Riyadh Formula E Saudi Arabia Grand. 

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A statement from his spokesman said: "Wayne Rooney was arrested and detained at Dulles airport following a long flight from Saudi Arabia after a one-day promotional business trip."

"During the flight, Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and consequently was disorientated on arrival. 

"He was approached by police who arrested him on a minor misdemeanour charge. He received a statutory automatic fine and was released shortly afterwards at the airport. The matter is now at an end.

"Wayne would like to put on record his appreciation for the manner he was treated by all involved."

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The former England captain was reportedly fined AUD$45 and forced to pay around AUD$160 in damages. 

A spokesman for Loudon County Sherrif's Office stated: "He was booked into the Loudon County Adult Detention Centre on 16 December 2018, on a charge of public intoxication stemming from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police (MWAA).

"He was later released on a personal recognisance bond."

Rooney who now plays for MLS side DC United is 15 months into a drink-driving ban in the UK after being caught nearly three times over the drink-drive limit in September 2017.