Rooney targeted in phone hack scandal

Posted Friday, April 29, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United star Wayne Rooney revealed Thursday that detectives probing a phone hacking scandal had informed him he may have been targeted by journalists under investigation.

Rooney wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter that police officers had told him he could have been among the dozens of celebrities and public figures who are believed to have had their phones hacked into by the News of the World.

"Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents, looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone. Bigsurprise," Rooney wrote.

A source close to the England international said Rooney would consider taking legal action against the News of the World.

Scotland Yard detectives who visited Rooney had showed him documents which included Rooney's mobile phone number and those of his associates.

The source said Rooney would take a decision on possible legal action after the end of the season.

"He wants to concentrate on his football until then," the source said. "I think any football fan would understand that."

Meanwhile Rooney's wife Coleen tweeted: "Newspapers hacking into phones!! Desperate and Disgusting!!!! X"

Three News of the World journalists have been arrested since the Metropolitan Police revived their inquiry into claims that staff at the paper had routinely hacked into the voicemail messages of celebrities and politicians.

Actress Sienna Miller and former culture secretary Tessa Jowell have received apologies from the newspaper while News International is estimated to have earmarked £20 million for payouts.