Manchester United star Wayne Rooney warned wife Coleen of yesterday's scandal ahead of the morning press breaking.
The Daily Mail says Rooney used a text message to inform Coleen about allegations that he repeatedly cheated on her with a prostitute.
The England striker delivered the devastating blow as Coleen was at the hairdresser's preparing for a family celebration.
He warned that 21-year-old Jennifer Thompson had come forward to claim she had sex with him at the same time as Coleen was expecting their son Kai, now ten months old.
The news has placed the Rooney marriage in severe jeopardy and the footballer is facing damage to the family-oriented 'brand' he and his wife have carefully nurtured, making them a fortune estimated at £33million.
Coleen, 24, was being comforted by her parents after leaving the £4.5million Cheshire mansion she shares with her husband, also 24.
A friend said: "Coleen and Wayne were supposed to attend a family christening this weekend but they didn't show up.
"Coleen had been getting her hair done on Saturday when Wayne texted her to break the news. He's a coward for hiding behind a text message, especially when they'd been together earlier that day."