The Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has defeated attempts by his former management agency to sue him for just over $9 million, labelling their claim a joke and an attempt to exploit him.
The 24-year-old England player had been accused of withholding commission on multi-million dollar deals brokered by sports management firm Proactive, who used to represent him.
Rooney made no payments after football agent Paul Stretford, a director and founder of Proactive, left the firm in acrimony in October 2008, taking with him their top client.
Judge Brendan Hegarty said the contract Rooney signed with Proactive in 2002 was a restraint of trade as it was up to eight years long when the FA recommended a maximum of two years.
He said Proactive was entitled to about $190,000 from Rooney.
