The sponsors of Wayne Rooney are standing by the Manchester United star. The England player's four main sponsors said his reported use of prostitutes while his wife Coleen was pregnant was a 'private matter' and they would not drop him.

Rooney earns more than £2.5 million a year from his four key sponsors - publisher Harper Collins, sports firm Nike, computer games manufacturer EA Sports and drinks company Coca-Cola.

Parents' groups called for them to end the footballer's lucrative contracts because as a role model he has set an 'appalling' example to children.

And marketing experts warned that Rooney had offended the 'moral fibre' of the population.

Thousands of people have joined Facebook groups condemning Rooney and bookies are offering odds on which sponsor will drop him first.