Coca-Cola will no longer use Wayne Rooney’s image on cans and bottles following allegations over the English footballer’s private life.
Following newspaper allegations that he cheated on his then-pregnant wife with a prostitute, Coca-Cola announced Monday that it had stopped using his image to promote its Coke Zero drink.
“Last month we amended our marketing plans on Coke Zero,” Coca-Cola said in a statement. “Given the situation at that time we did not feel it was appropriate to run an on-pack promotion featuring Wayne Rooney.”
A year after a sex scandal cost golfer Tiger Woods three major corporate sponsors worth millions of dollars, Coca-Cola said it had not decided whether the move was permanent.
The world’s largest soft drink maker added that it will continue to use the Manchester United player for other forms of promotion.
Rooney’s contract with Coca-Cola is widely reported to be worth nearly US$800,000a year. The company has used the player to endorse the product since 2007.
Rooney has conceded that last month’s allegations contributed to his poor start to the Premier League season with United.
Rooney has scored just once in six matches for United.
