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Beckham escapes to New York but his image is everywhere
LONDON (AP) -- David Beckham will never forget the kick that led to his sending-off in England's World Cup loss to Argentina -- the fans won't let him.Beckham, escaping from the media scrutiny, retreated to New York late Wednesday for some soul-searching and a reunion with fiance Victoria Adams -- better known as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls.
Beckham, considered the "glamor boy" of English soccer, was sent off early in the second half of Tuesday's match for petulantly kicking an opposing player.
His dismissal left England one man short for 75 minutes, as his teammates fought bravely to a 2-2 draw before losing the match on a penalty shootout.
The Sun newspaper reported Thursday that Beckham could not believe he had been sent off and could not face manager Glenn Hoddle as he left the field.
"I felt sick," he was quoted as saying. "I stood in the tunnel and watched the last few minutes and the terrible tension of the penalty shootout. I kept thinking to myself that if I had still been out there I would have been one of the penalty-takers."
While Beckham has former World Cup stars, his fiancee, politicians and his parents defending him, the average soccer fan -- through hastily organized telephone polls -- still blames him for England's exit.
The Sun even quoted his former teacher's report cards which described Beckham as talented but "silly".
Adams, meanwhile, appealed to fans not to persecute the 23-year-old Manchester United star.
"He doesn't deserve to be the most hated man in Britain," she said in a statement. "He, more than anyone, wanted England to go all the way."
Sir Bobby Charlton, a 1966 World Cup hero and director at Manchester United, said Beckham can expect to be taunted when he lines up for United next season.
"Fans will be looking for any way to get back at him on the football field next season," he said. "Manchester United is not the most popular team already with rival fans and this will just add to the unpopularity. This is going to follow him around."
"He's not an evil person. He's a very nice young man and we'll see how he's able to handle the situation," Charlton added.
Geoff Hurst, another 1966 World Cup hero, said in a television interview Thursday he did not think Beckham's actions cost England the game and in years past would have gone unpunished.
"In the context of the game, a few years ago that incident would be regarded as next to nothing," he said.
However, Hurst said Beckham would have to learn how to control his temper.
"David seems to have a temperament which seems a little fiery and needs to learn how to control that."
"He's a young lad, he's made a mistake and let's hope he learns from that and becomes the great player we all feel he can be," Hunt added. "We should get off his back and let him get on with his career and his life."
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan