England crashed out of South Africa 2010 in the second round and Rooney was forced to apologize after one match for shouting into a TV camera: “Nice to see your home fans boo you. That’s what loyal support is.” Some fans haven’t forgiven him — especially Manchester United followers who saw their star striker last month threaten to leave the club, blaming its lack of ambition before signing a new five-year deal.
He was already dealing with the fallout from allegations he cheated on his wife with a prostitute.
Several hundred people watched the effigy in a United jersey burn in the southern English town of Edenbridge on Saturday.
Towns across Britain light bonfires and set off fireworks every year to commemorate the failure of a Nov. 5 plot to blow up parliament and King James I in 1605.
Bonfires are traditionally topped with an effigy of conspirator Guy Fawkes but have been decorated with contemporary figures over recent years.
