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After England captain John Terry was caught cheating on his wife Toni, an insider has revealed what it’s like to be a footballer’s wife.

Author Alison Kervin, spent years shadowing the better halves of some of our richest football stars. She reckons a whopping 90% of players are leading a secret life of sex and scandal, so it’s no shock Terry, 29, was caught.

Alison says: “So many of the country’s leading players have publicly cheated, it’s no wonder that the WAGs become so worried. Few footballers are faithful because it’s not expected of them. The wives usually end up forgiving them on the few times they find out."

“The rest of the time a player can cover it up by paying off the girl that he’s had a fl ing with.” Blonde Toni, 28, is no different. She is standing by her man despite his affair with her pal Vanessa Perroncel, 33, ex-girlfriend of Terry’s England team-mate Wayne Bridge, 29.

The wives and girlfriends of top international stars came to the fore at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It was portrayed as a glamorous world of fun and friends, but the reality is a lot different. Alison reveals: “I had one evening out with a group of four WAGs who told me that they would all be loyal and tell one another if they heard any rumours about each others’ partners."

“They swore that they would stick together as a group and always tell the others what they knew. However, when one of the girls left the room, the others told me they knew her boyfriend was unfaithful."

“It soon emerged that each of the women knew something about the other women’s husbands or boyfriends, but would never say anything because of loyalty to their husband, who had told them the gossip in the first place."

“No doubt there are times when the WAGs do have lots of fun, and I’m sure some of the women are in happy and fulfilling relationships. But there’s no question a significant number live in a state of anxiety, not sure what’s around the corner and terrified lest their husband should give in to the astonishing number of temptations laid before him.”

Alison also tells us about an encounter with one high-profile girlfriend of an international star. The author describes the WAG as “a beautiful girl who, though only in her 20s, had Botox, fi llers, a breast enhancement and tummy tuck to keep herself as beautiful as possible”.

The girl in question told Alison: “You have to do all you can to keep your man. He’s being flirted with whenever he leaves the house and being told by everyone that he’s amazing. If he doesn’t come back here and find me perfect and the house perfect, one day he won’t come back at all.”

Alison explains: “Most WAGs feel the only control they have is over their appearance and that of their homes. They fear that if they let themselves go, their husband, like John Terry, would turn to one of the many gorgeous girls throwing themselves at him.”

The lucrative Brand Beckham was rocked when 34-year-old David’s PA Rebecca Loos, now 32, claimed she had an affair with him in 2004. Yet doting wife Victoria, 35, remained tight-lipped and stood by her man.

Even 24-year-old Wayne Rooney’s relationship with childhood sweetheart Coleen, 23, was hit by allegations he visited a 48-year-old prostitute.

Alison explains: “Few WAGs walk away because I think many of them don’t feel that the player loves them less because of what he has done, just he succumbed to the temptations on offer. There is a period of simmering anger, promises it will never happen again, and the relationship usually continues with the woman now ever more worried when her man goes out on his own.”

One Premier League manager admits: “Players get away with murder because as long as they’re good on the pitch, they’re worth a fortune and everyone will run around to protect them.” Yet still young girls aspire to this life. The pages of women’s magazines are full of tips on how to recreate Cheryl Cole’s look – from her hair to her clothes  to her exotic holiday destinations.

But despite the 26-year-old X Factor judge’s successful singing career, it is still questioned if she is happy with husband Ashley, 29, another England star who faced allegations of cheating. Alison says: “The WAGs I met were colourful, confident and peacock-like on the outside."

"They think that creating that profile will mask their sadness and insecurity on the inside. When why these women stayed, the answer is simple: ‘Because I love him.’”

WAGs At The World Cup by Alison Kervin is out on May 27.