LONDON, April 7 — Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's relationship with Coca-Cola has ended and will not be renewed, the drinks firm said yesterday.

The England international, who had endorsed Coke Zero since 2007, was initially dropped from an advertising campaign last year after unsavoury allegations emerged about his private life.

The striker, currently facing a two-game ban after swearing into a TV camera after completing a hat-trick during the Premier League win at West Ham United on Saturday.

"Our contract with Wayne Rooney came to an end last year and we mutually agreed that we would not renew our relationship," Coca-Cola said in a statement.

Rooney's deal with the world's largest soft drinks manufacturer was worth £600,000 pounds (RM2.952 million), according to media reports.

As well as Coke Zero, Rooney's involvement with the company included the TV show Coke Zero Street Striker and the Rooney v Rooney Powerade TV ad.

"Our marketing plans have evolved to focus on our sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the upcoming launch of our plans for the Olympic Torch Relay," Coca-Cola added in their statement.

"We wish Wayne well in his career." — Reuters

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BARCELONA, April 7 — Barcelona seized control of their Champions League quarter-final against Shakhtar Donetsk when an early Andres Iniesta strike paved the way for a 5-1 first-leg victory at the Nou Camp yesterday.

The Spain midfielder punished a defensive error by the Ukrainian side the second minute when he picked up a loose ball and burst through to finish low inside the near post.

Fullback Daniel Alves raced on to Iniesta's pass to double the home side's lead in the 34th minute and centre half Gerard Pique made it 3-0 eight minutes after halftime with a deflected shot from a corner.

Yaroslav Rakitskiy briefly checked Barca's domination in the 59th minute when he flicked the ball past Victor Valdes but Seydou Keita smashed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area a minute later.

Xavi tapped in the fifth after 86 minutes to make what had looked a potentially tricky second leg in Donetsk appear a formality as a semi-final between Barca and Real Madrid looms. — Reuters

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