Wayne's onto a loser with his gambling

IF the couple who spend together stay together than the precarious engagement of England footballer Wayne Rooney to former checkout girl Colleen McLoughlin is surely the perfect match.

Known mainly for her titanic shopping sprees and penchant for velour tracksuits, the 19-year-old's prodigal expenditure has found a rival in her fiance's gargantuan gambling habits.

Rooney, who earns an estimated £50,000 (€72,000) a week on the pitch and millions more a year from sponsorship deals, is one of a number of England players said to be involved in betting on sports other than their own.

According to Sunday newspaper reports, the Manchester United star striker has racked up gambling debts of £700,000 and is unlikely to escape the censure of England boss Sven Goran Eriksson.

With less than two months to go to England's World cup bid in Germany, Eriksson will not welcome the type of distracting publicity Rooney's habits have a habit of attracting. Previously, the 20-year-old admitted to visiting massage parlours and prostitutes when he was "very young and immature" and before he had settled down with Colleen in their €3.5m home in Cheshire.

More recently, there were reports he clattered his fiancée in public following an argument in a nightclub. The Football Association said although Eriksson would not launch an inquiry into the gambling claims, he would speak to the players allegedly involved to establish exactly what the situation is.

Director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "The FA would like to make it clear we are unaware of any problems in the England team dressing room due to issues surrounding gambling or anything else come to that.

"However, on being made aware of these allegations we believe Mr Eriksson will speak to the players allegedly involved to clarify the facts.

"It's important the fans know that everyone connected to the FA and the England team is determined to do all they can to achieve success in Germany this summer."

But, Mr Bevington added: "We should also state that there is little the FA can do to prevent any individuals gambling privately on horse or greyhound racing though there are rules preventing betting on any football matches or competitions they are involved in."

It is not the first time England players have been linked to the pursuit of gambling.

Michael Owen, who owns four racehorses, is well known for his love of gambling and in 2003 he admitted to being an "occasional" gambler who had run up £30,000-£40,000 (€43,000-€57,000) losses from his bets.

At the time he said: "This publicity will not stop my love for horses. They are my main hobby outside of football."

He went on: "I fully accept that high-profile sports people like me are a role model for youngsters and I would never encourage anyone to gamble."

Bet your bottom dollar

Eidur Gudjohnsen admitted to losing around £400,000 (€576,000) in casinos.

Stan Bowles: The former Manchester City, QPR and England star was a regular at dog tracks and racecourses. His former manager at Crewe, Ernie Tagg, once said of the midfielder: "If he could pass a betting shop like he can pass a football, he would be all right."

Keith Gillespie: The Northern Ireland and Blackburn winger's interest in racing is said to have started when, as a trainee at Manchester United, he would act as a runner to place bets for the big Old Trafford stars of the time.

Steve Claridge: Admitted in his candid autobiography Tales from the Boot Camp to losing up to £300,000 (€430,000) on bets throughout his career, and once blew a signing-on fee in one day and ended up temporarily homeless. He was fined £900 by the FA in April 2000 for placing a bet on Portsmouth to beat Barnsley at home. Claridge felt the odds of 3-1 were "insulting" and scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 Pompey win.

Paul Merson: Open about his struggle against addictions to gambling, drugs and alcohol and claimed he would often bet £10,000 (€14,000) on sporting events he had no information about. Merson left Middlesbrough to join Aston Villa in September 1998 because, as a recovering addict, he could not cope with what he perceived as a "gambling culture" at the Teesside club.

Peter Shilton: England's record caps winner had his reputation tarnished when he was declared bankrupt after gambling vast sums of money.