Beckham sent off at kids' match

Published February 4, 2012

“He sent the kid off. And I was like, 'Come on, he's seven years old, referee, you can't send him off'.” -File photo

LONDON: Football icon David Beckham was shown the red card and ordered out of a park while watching a children's match, he said in an interview to be screened Saturday.

The former England captain was sent off after protesting a decision to send off one of the youngsters, he told ITV television.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, 36, who was waiting for a match his nine-year-old son Romeo was due to play in, had to go and stand outside the park gate until the game was over.

“I was watching the kids play the other day, it was the game just before they were playing,” he said.

“It was the younger kids of Romeo's club, and they're playing in the game and there was a penalty given.

“He sent the kid off. And I was like, 'Come on, he's seven years old, referee, you can't send him off'.

“And he looked at me and was like, 'Yes, I can'. And I was like, 'OK, well, you can't, he's seven years old'.

“And he came over and gave me a red card. He told me to get out of the park. For real.

“The gate was only 20 yards away and I waited and went back in when my son's game was on.”

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star said his family was happy in California and did not rule out having more children with his wife, former Spice Girls singer Victoria. The couple have three sons and a daughter.

“We might have one more or two more, you never know. We're not thinking about it yet, but if it happens, great. We're enjoying the kids as it is. It's always a thought.”

Beckham, England's most capped outfield player, has set his sights on captaining Great Britain at the Olympic Games in July and August, to be held in his native east London.

Beckham's contract was up at LA Galaxy but last month but he has agreed a new two-year deal contract with the US champions, rejecting offers from Paris Saint-Germain and two English Premier League clubs.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...