The David Beckham Thread

[MenInG]

Former England captain David Beckham has launched his long-planned Major League Soccer team in Miami.

Beckham exercised an option in his contract with former side LA Galaxy to buy an expansion franchise in 2014.

The as yet unnamed team is set to play at a 25,000-seat stadium in the city's Overtown neighbourhood.

"I'm excited to bring this great team to this great city - it has been a hell of a journey," said former Manchester United midfielder Beckham, 42.

"I promise you the team we will bring into the league will be the best team."

The launch follows four years of disputes over the site for a stadium in southern Florida, with residents having opposed multiple locations.

Beckham's team of investors purchased the land to build a stadium in December 2015, following three failed attempts to buy a suitable site.

The Miami-Dade government was subsequently sued by wealthy businessman Bruce Matheson, who claimed it had sold the site below fair value and without a competitive bid process. The lawsuit was dismissed in October, although Matheson has said he will appeal.

Beckham, who joined LA Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007, becomes the first former MLS player to own a team in the league.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42864461

 

[KingKhanWC]

Well done Beckham, after years of working hard he has achieved this.

MLS is improving at a good rate and in the future will be become a quality league.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Football will always remain a C grade Sport in the United States no matter how many Beckhems come and go.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Football will always remain a C grade Sport in the United States no matter how many Beckhems come and go.

I disagree. Sure it wont get to the levels of the top leagues in England, Italy, Germany, Spain or South America but there is a lot of potential as football or soccer(as they call it) is becoming more popular. I watched a full game with the Toronto team and they were decent. I would like them to play a Championship team which would show their level.

 

[MenInG]

David Beckham will not be prosecuted over a speeding charge, a district judge has ruled.

Celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole, successfully fought the allegation for him on a technicality.

The former England football captain, 43, was accused of driving a loaned Bentley at 59mph in a 40mph zone on the A40 in Paddington on 23 January.

However, Mr Freeman had argued a speeding notice arrived one day too late.

Beckham, who did not attend the hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, had previously entered a not guilty plea.

Mr Freeman said Beckham was "very relieved with the verdict".

The lawyer previously helped Beckham overturn an eight-month driving ban in 1999, after successfully arguing he was trying to escape a paparazzi photographer.

Image caption
Nick Freeman - known as Mr Loophole - said the case against Beckham was "defective"
Mr Freeman suggested the more recent matter could have been a case of poor postal service, citing a subsequent letter sent first class by Bentley to Scotland Yard which took eight days to arrive.

He said: "Unfortunately and sadly some post attracts problems. There might be nobody at fault here."

District judge Barbara Barnes said a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) was sent on 2 February and should have arrived at Bentley Motors Ltd, the registered keepers of the vehicle, by 6 February.

However, she was satisfied on the evidence heard it did not in fact arrive until 7 February - one day outside the statutory 14-day window.

Summing up, she said the law allowed for the "vagaries" of the postal system to be taken into account.

She said: "What I find is the fact it did not arrive in the post room of Bentley Motors Ltd until 7 February and therefore was one day outside the legal limit.

"The defendant in this case cannot be convicted."

Analysis
Solicitor Nick Freeman has been dubbed Mr Loophole for his success at using legal technicalities to get celebrity clients acquitted of driving offences.

His clients have in the past included cricketer Andrew Flintoff, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and golfer Colin Montgomerie.

In 1999 Mr Freeman successfully defended former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who had been accused of driving down the hard shoulder of a motorway.

His defence? Sir Alex was simply looking for a toilet because he had an upset stomach.

More recently, last October, Manchester magistrates threw out a speeding offence against TV personality Paddy McGuinness after accepting Mr Freeman's argument the prosecution had failed in its legal duties by not providing any documents or evidence to the defence.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-45668735

 

[MenInG]

Former England captain David Beckham is set to take a 10% stake in National League club Salford City.

Beckham, 43, will become a part-owner alongside former Manchester United team-mates Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.

The 'Class of 92' now own 60% of the club, with the remaining 40% being held by Singapore businessman Peter Lim.

Beckham already owns American club Inter Miami, who will join Major League Soccer in 2020.

The Football Association still needs to approve Beckham's ownership before it is made official and Gary Neville said Beckham will attend a Salford game in the "next two or three weeks".

Salford are third in the fifth tier of English football and promotion this season would see them reach the Football League for the first time in their history.

"It is a really special club with a special group of people," said Beckham, who joined United as a youth player and played 11 seasons for the first team, winning the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1998-99.

"My early years in Manchester were all spent in Salford. I grew up there in many ways so to be able to finally join the lads and the club today is a great feeling.

"Salford City has achieved so much success in a short space of time, the fans are incredible and I'm really excited to be spending more time in Salford again."

The 'Class of 92' bought the club in 2014 and have overseen three promotions in four seasons, and redeveloped the ground.

"From the very beginning we wanted David to be involved and be with us on this incredible journey however circumstances and commitments didn't allow that," the club said in a statement.

"Now the time is right and it is another exciting time in Salford City's history."

However, it has not come without criticism.

Earlier this season, Accrington owner Andy Holt accused Salford of trying to "steal" a place in the Football League after they signed Adam Rooney from Aberdeen, who had just finished second in the Scottish Premiership.

As Butt admits, adding one of the most famous footballers in the world into the Salford mix is bound to bring more negativity.

"We accept that," Butt told BBC Sport. "We accept that us alone coming into Salford attracts negativity when you see some of the things that are flying about, that we are millionaires playing monopoly football.

"But it is not our fault that one of the lads we grew up with happens to be David Beckham.

"Deep down we know he is one of us. He loves Salford. He grew up there like us. He lived there from the age of 15. He is passionate about giving back.

"We can't worry about what outsiders are thinking. We are comfortable about what we are doing."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46972871

 

[MenInG]

David Beckham has been given a six-month driving ban for using his mobile phone while behind the wheel.

The former England captain previously pleaded guilty to using the device while driving his Bentley in central London on 21 November last year.

A court heard he was photographed by a member of the public holding a phone as he drove in "slowly moving" traffic.

Beckham, 44, received six points on his licence to add to the six he already had for previous speeding matters.

He was also fined £750, ordered to pay £100 in prosecution costs and a £75 surcharge fee within seven days.

District Judge Catherine Moore said she acknowledged the slow pace of the traffic but told him there was "no excuse" under the law.

Bromley Magistrates' Court heard Beckham was seen "operating a handheld device at knee level" while driving along Great Portland Street in the West End.

Prosecutor Matthew Spratt said: "Instead of looking straight forward, paying attention to the road he appeared to be looking at his lap."

Beckham's defence barrister Gerrard Tyrrell said the former Manchester United midfielder had "no recollection of the day in question or this particular incident".

He added: "There is no excuse for what took place but his view is that he cannot remember."

Mr Tyrrell told the court that Beckham found driving a relaxing pastime.

"He takes his children to school each day when he can and he picks them up when he can, and actually to deprive them of that is something that he will acknowledge," he said.

In September, Beckham was accused of "shirking his responsibility" as a role model when he avoided prosecution on a speeding charge because of a technicality.

The father-of-four accepted he drove a loaned Bentley at 59mph in a 40mph zone in west London in January last year.

But his lawyer Nick Freeman - known as Mr Loophole - successfully fought to prevent action being taken because a speeding notice arrived one day late.

In March 2017, the punishment for driving while on the phone was doubled to six penalty points - enough to ban those with less than two years' experience.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-48213106

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Inter Miami: David Beckham's US stadium site 'contaminated'

The proposed stadium site for David Beckham's Inter Miami franchise in the MLS has arsenic contamination levels more than twice the legal limit, says an environmental report.

Melreese golf course has been closed until further notice by Miami's city council after the findings.
Plans are in place to build a stadium, shopping mall, hotel and public park on the site as part of a $1bn development.

"This obviously causes great concerns," Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said.

Basically, the site has significantly more contamination than is commercially reasonable," Suarez added in an interview with the Miami Herald.

Long-term exposure to the chemical arsenic can lead to a variety of chronic health conditions, including skin disorders, cancers of the lung and bladder and cardiovascular issues.

Environmental firm EE&G, commissioned by Inter Miami, found barium and lead levels also exceeded legal limits. The site used to be a waste site for incinerator ash.

A deal to build a stadium for Inter Miami on the proposed Miami Freedom Park has not yet been finalised.

An Inter Miami spokesperson said: "Miami Freedom Park has continued to move forward with the various studies needed for the redevelopment of the site.

"Our legal team and engineers have been meeting with city commissioners and staff about the environmental report our consultants conducted on the city's land.

"We will be working with the city to implement a remediation plan that is thorough, and provides residents and visitors a destination that is safe for all to enjoy."

Inter Miami are set to join the MLS in 2020 as a new franchise and will initially play in an 18,000-seat arena in Fort Lauderdale.


Source

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49415758

 

[MenInG]

David Beckham has made his first public statement on his controversial multi-million-dollar ambassador's role with World Cup hosts Qatar, telling the New York Times he believed "sport has the power to be a force for good in the world". In an article on Friday entitled "The World Cup's Missing Mouthpiece", the US newspaper alleged Qatar had been disappointed with its return on its investment because the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player had appeared very little in public during the World Cup.

The paper claimed Beckham had placed strict conditions on his appearances and that he appeared to be shielded from questions on issues such as Qatar's laws on homosexuality.

In response to the article, his publicist issued a statement saying: "David has been involved in a number of World Cups and other major international tournaments both as a player and an ambassador and he has always believed that sport has the power to be a force for good in the world.

"We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region," the statement continued.

"We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy toward all people and that progress will be achieved."

Initial reports last year indicated that 47-year-old Beckham was being paid $180 million over 10 years to promote Qatar, but more recent reports indicate he will receive around $15 million a year for three years with an option to extend.

Beckham, who played in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals for England, is one of the owners of Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami.

NDTV

 

[MenInG]

A new Netflix documentary on David Beckham has given us an insight into the life of one of the most iconic English footballers of all time.

From free-kicks to haircuts, Beckham hit the front and back pages of newspapers, and even inspired a film title.

The documentary, titled Beckham, and jointly made by his production company Studio 99, sees Becks reflect on his rise from Waltham Forest under-12s to become a household name, with contributions from his family, former team-mates and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Here are just a few takeaways.


Beckham always wanted to play for Manchester United

Beckham joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1991, making his first-team debut the following year before signing his first professional contract in 1993.

But it was in 1996 when he announced himself to the football world by scoring from the halfway line against Wimbledon.

Fame followed, but manager Ferguson had growing concerns about his celebrity lifestyle and his relationship with Spice Girls singer Victoria Adams.

"Getting the attention and becoming a celebrity was different to what I wanted," Ferguson said. "Getting David to keep his feet on the ground became more difficult."

Beckham recalled Ferguson going "absolutely mental" at him for choosing a different agent to the one he had suggested.

"He just wanted me to be the best footballer that I could be and to be married to a local girl that wasn't a superstar," he said.

As part of the 'Class of 92,' Beckham was part of the history-making 1999 treble-winning squad and won six Premier League titles.

He attributes this to the "family" dynamic at Old Trafford and throughout the documentary calls Ferguson a "father figure".

"The way he was with me from a young age was special," he said.

"He was one of the most important people in my life from the age of 12. It was a family and that's why we had the success that we had."


Beckham still 'beats himself up' about World Cup red card

Beckham says he still "beats himself up" about the red card that he received against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

England ultimately lost the match on penalties, leading Beckham to become public enemy number one.

"I wish there was a pill you could take that could erase some memories," he said. "I made a stupid mistake and it changed my life."

"The whole country hated me. Wherever I went, I got abuse every single day. I was a mess."

Wife Victoria, who was pregnant during the months of the torrent abuse, blames England manager Glenn Hoddle for attributing the loss in his post-match interview to Beckham's sending-off.

She tells the documentary that Beckham was "clinically depressed and absolutely broken" during this period.

Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville added: "It was inhumane what he had to deal with and it would have broken 99.9% of footballers."


Ferguson described it as a "freak" accident

The documentary also addresses the infamous dressing room row of 2003 that saw Ferguson kick a boot at the midfielder.

The United boss was furious after an FA Cup loss to Arsenal, with Beckham reflecting: "When you see the boss' face like this, you don't want to be anywhere near him".

A heated verbal exchange between the two occurred when the midfielder answered back to Ferguson and swore at him.

Kit man Albert Morgan says Ferguson went "flying across in a rage" and kicked out at some clothes, which sent Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's boot into the air and hit Beckham.

"It was an absolute freak [incident]," Ferguson added.

Beckham was photographed with a plaster above his eye following the incident, although Ferguson maintained it was "just a graze" and no stitches were needed.

Morgan added: "I'm not going to talk about that - the only thing I will say is that I think it was stage managed because it wasn't even worth a stitch."


The Madrid nightmare

Following speculation of a move to Barcelona, Beckham signed a £24.5m deal with Real Madrid in July 2003.

By now his relationship with Ferguson had turned sour. The two never spoke about his transfer - something Beckham reflects on as a good thing because it "would have broken my heart."

Soon after his arrival at the Bernabeu, former Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz was appointed head coach.

"I never got on with him," said Beckham.

"I was shocked that I was starting at a new club with a manager who didn't want me at my last team. It was a different pressure."

Off the pitch, coverage around a highly-publicised alleged affair affected the family. The couple have always denied claims that Beckham had an affair while in Spain.

Although the couple do not discuss the details of what happened in the documentary, Beckham says the attention was difficult to deal with. Photographers followed the children to school and Victoria admits she "resented" her husband for the "absolute circus" of extra media attention.

"It was the first time that me and Victoria had been put under that kind of pressure in our marriage," he added.


He just loved being a footballer

Beckham's decision to retire came sooner than he imagined.

He joined French Ligue 1 side Paris St-Germain in January 2013 but it was a step too far, with Beckham, now aged 38, left feeling like he "had been beaten up" after games.

"I was aching," he said. "I was hurting. I'd roll out of the bed in the morning because I was in so much pain."

Beckham announced his retirement four months later and said he "couldn't breathe or control his emotions" in his last professional game.

"I loved the game more than anyone has ever loved it," he smiled. "I know it's not true but I think I loved it more than anyone."

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Beckham scores Euros deal with China tech giant

David Beckham has signed a deal to be a global ambassador for AliExpress, an online retail platform owned by Chinese technology giant Alibaba.

The announcement comes as the Euros football tournament is due to kick off in Germany next month.

The company did not reveal how much it is paying the former England captain.

In March, AliExpress agreed an exclusive e-commerce platform partnership with European football's governing body UEFA.

Under the deal, the football superstar turned entrepreneur will be the face of AliExpress' Score More promotion, which will run during games.

“AliExpress is helping fans get even closer to UEFA EURO 2024 this summer, by offering them great prizes as the action takes place on the pitch,” David Beckham said.

AliExpress joins other major Chinese firms that are sponsoring the Euros, including electric vehicle maker BYD and electronics giant Vivo.

Since hanging up his football boots more than a decade ago, Beckham has been linked to a host of brands and major sporting events.

According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Beckham and his wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl and fashion designer, have a combined fortune of £455m ($581.6m).

After the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the tournament is set to be the biggest sporting event of the year.

A total of 2.7 million tickets were made available for the competition, which runs from 14 June to 14 July across 10 cities including Munich and Hamburg.

According to UEFA, the 2020 Euros had a total global live television audience of 5.2 billion. The final, that England lost on penalties, was watched by 328 million people, it said.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Beckham set to be awarded knighthood

David Beckham is set to be awarded a knighthood in King Charles' Birthday Honours.

The former England football captain, 50, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003.

But BBC Sport has been told he is now in line to receive further recognition for both his football career, and his contributions to British society, with the list of recipients to be published next week.

Beckham played 115 times for his country as well as for Manchester United, LA Galaxy, Paris St-Germain and AC Milan, retiring in 2013.

Beckham was reportedly first nominated for a knighthood in 2011.

In 2017 several British newspapers press printed details of leaked emails in which Beckham criticised the honours system and the honours committee.

A spokesperson for Beckham said at the time that the emails were "hacked", "doctored" and "private".

Beckham played a key role in securing the London 2012 Olympics, and has been an ambassador for Unicef since 2005.

Unicef - which supports vulnerable children around the world - launched 'The David Beckham Unicef Fund' in 2015 to mark a decade's partnership between the two.

Beckham became an ambassador for The King's Foundation in 2024, supporting King Charles' education programme and efforts to ensure young people have a greater understanding of nature.

He is also part-owner of League Two side Salford City, as well as president and co-owner of Major League Soccer team Inter Miami in the United States.

He helped set-up the Inter Miami CF Foundation - a community driven not-for-profit enterprise that looks to empower underserved communities, using football as a catalyst.

A Government spokesperson said: "We do not comment on speculation on honours."

Beckham's representatives declined to comment.

BBC

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Sir David Beckham. Long over due Knighthood for the Former UTD Great.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Very well deserved.

David Beckham has been a role model man among celebrities. Great player, but even greater husband, a father and a businessman. The way he stood in queue for hours at the funeral of Ms Elizabeth was very touching.