English football star Wayne Rooney was arrested in December at an airport outside Washington, DC for public intoxication, according to local police.
Rooney, who has played for US soccer team D.C. United since last year, was booked on December 16, the local sheriff's office said.
The English footballer was arrested at an international arrivals gate at Dulles after he triggered a door alarm but did not breach airport security, a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman said in a statement.
He received a $25 fine, according to court documents.
Rooney, 33, was released later the same day, said Kraig Troxell, a spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.
It was not immediately clear why authorities had delayed releasing details of Rooney's arrest for more than two weeks.
Rooney's agent said in a statement that he was affected by sleeping pills after a long flight.
"Wayne Rooney was arrested and detained at Dulles airport following a long flight from Saudi Arabia after a one-day promotional business trip," the spokesman said.
"During the flight Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and consequently was disorientated on arrival.
"The matter is now at an end."
Rooney burst into the consciousness of English soccer when he made his Premier League debut for Everton at age 16.
He joined Manchester United for $35 million in 2004 and stayed there for 13 seasons - winning five English titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, three League Cups and becoming the club's all-time leading scorer with 253 goals.
He earned 119 caps for England, scoring a record 53 goals.
