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David Beckham confronts LA Galaxy fans after jeers
Tom Teodorczuk, in New York20.07.09
David Beckham tried to jump over a barrier to remonstrate with angry fans who jeered him throughout his first game back in Los Angeles.
He was held back by security staff who also had to restrain one fan who rushed towards the former England captain.
Supporters of LA Galaxy accused him of betraying their club after trying to set up a permanent move to AC Milan, who he was playing for on loan.
There had also been rumours of a return to the Premier League with Spurs and, less strongly, with Chelsea, whose manager Carlo Ancelotti was in charge at AC Milan when Beckham was there.
Gallery: click here for more pictures from the game
A section of the 27,000 sell-out crowd booed 34-year-old Beckham every time he touched the ball and held up signs reading “Go Home Fraud” and “23: Repent”, a reference to his shirt number.
After the referee blew for half time, Beckham tried to hurdle an advertising hoarding and appeared to make a “come on” gesture towards fans.
In response, one man left his seat, jumped down onto the pitch and attempted to run towards him. At this point security intervened and escorted the player to the changing rooms, while removing the fan. Beckham was the last man to take to the pitch in the second half and hugged several of his former AC Milan team-mates before gesturing towards the rowdy section of the crowd.
A line of yellow-jacketed security staff stood between the supporters and the pitch as a precaution.
In the 65th minute Beckham hit a corner cross for a goal. He then turned and shrugged his shoulders at the fans who had been jeering him. He was substituted in the 75th minute and walked off to a mixture of cheers and boos. The match ended 2-2.
Amid the hostility, one section of fans in the VIP seats never wavered in their support: his wife Victoria, Tom Cruise, Kate Beckinsale, impresario Simon Fuller and Take That's Gary Barlow.
Reader views (29)
Talentless waste of a human life. You took him, you keep him. Athlete? Pah! Footballer? Pah! And that worthless piece of work that married him? Keep that as well. Over-rated, over paid and thank goodness - over there!
- Fred, Romford, UK
Please America - keep them -kep them both. We don't want them. They are both a total waste of space. We really thought we had got rid of them when you welcomed them with open arms. Please reconsider. Don't send them back here
- Louie, London South East
You lot make me laugh. One minute, Beckham is God and then he's on the bottom of your shoe. English sports fans and media pundits - you're unbelievable. I can't see how his revolting hanger-on of a wife has anything to do with his football. And England haven't won a World Cup for 43 years - I hardly think that's Beckham's fault.
- Leanne, London
David Beckenham played for Man U from the age of 16 and still would be playing for them today if Alex F hadn't fallen out with him. He is loyal and also sensible he needs to play at a different level if he wants to play for England. I'm glad he chose to go to AC Milan. Don't knock the guy just because he is paid well for his God given talent. He has given us hours of quality entertainment and will for a few more years
- Johnnythedog, London
What would one expect when you bite the hand that feeds you ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent
The Beckhams are entertainers. Saying he is an athlete is the same as calling his wife a singer!!! Accept them for what they are - Euro Trash trying to make money in America. Or anywhere else for that matter.
- Bill A, Buffalo, New York, USA
They may be a third tier league but the yanks have sussed him out big time. Loyalty is a bigger issue in the US and these qualities are important to some although maybe not as much back home.We are more in pursuit of the fast buck than the US ever was.
- Tony ,Essex, Harlow,UK
Beckham is the only world-class footballer England has produced in recent years. But then our last chance of winning anything major started to slip away when Scholes left.
I have seen this incident on TV. Beckham wished to shake the fan's hand not attck him. You can see that in the photo. Still, don't let the truth get in the way of a bit of sensationalism, eh?
- I, Football
It's LA's loss. Milan want him back and Ancelotti and Harry Redknap would love to take him. Now he has played for 3 seasons his contract is up for review in November anyway; either side can withdraw, so no harm done. He deserves better. Come home, David, and get to the top of your game again in time for South Africa 2010.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
What does he expect from the fans after abandoning the team he plays for?
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
"Brand Beckham" or "Chavs' Delight" - whatever - it's gone pear-shaped and not before time.
Many people have correctly pointed out that he won sod all with England, yet others tell us that he needs to play in the Premier League to guarantee yet more international caps. You couldn't make it up!
- Ted, London
Thats entertainment. Beckham has been more involved in the media business rather than the football business for quite some time now. Maybe its time for him to hang up his y fronts if he wants to play football or his boots if he wants to play the media.
- Mr S.Port, London
does Tony Hall buy his Kool aid over the counter, or is it a homebrew? Geez...
- Scotty, london
he took the money, said he believed in the cause, and at first chance tried to jumpship.
he brought it upon himself by trying so hard to get out of his deal, then failing. of course facing the music was going to be unpleasant.
can't have your cake and eat it too.
- Scotty, london
Give "the LA Riot Squad" a break. Maybe they don't quite get it, but at least they're trying. Americans still have a lot to learn about supporting football properly, but they'll get there eventually.
- Bloke, London
Beckham should come back to Europe and play any of the 1st tier league. Leagues like MLS still dont need that level of quality players. Players like becks is too much for such kind of 3rd tier leagues. " Come back Becks, you r a big boy and still worthy in Europe."
- Quaz, Stratford, London
"I am a member of the LA Riot Squad"
You have to laugh at Americans don't you!
- Mick, London
Has spent to long in the company of LA Galaxy effeminate suporters, if he is serious regarding gestures should go to Millwall and retrain.
- William, Hay~Heath UK
Beckham won nothing with England or AC Milan. Why doen't he just retire now, as he is slowing down and arguing, and calling out fans during matches. Not noce to see
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Have you guys all lost the plot?!?!
DB is still a quality player, I would love to see him back in the Prem - and I think we will.
There is a World Cup around the corner and he'll need to be playing in a proper league to get into Fabio's 22.
I agree that he has treated LA Galaxy a tad shabbily, but the MLS was on a break! The offer to go on loan to AC Milan must surely have been sanctioned by the club - Becks just wants to go the World Cup.
MLS is the 2nd tier of club football, normally where stars go to whilst they fade.
Personally, I think that professional or not - he is entitled to go and speak to someone in the crowd, so long as it's kept on a civilised level - where's the harm in that? Who's to say how it would have gone?
Get off his back! Why do you all love to jump on the bandwagon and join in with bashing the Beckhams!?
In my book, he's a top man and still a great footballer. Ok, you might not like it that he earns a crazy amount of money, but I'm sure if were to be offered - you wouldn't turn it down either!
- Tony Hall, Herts, England
What did he truly expect? That after his sabbatical to Milan - they'd roll out the red carpet and ticker tape for him (as they did when he initially signed for LA Galaxy)???!!! Is he that deluded that he didn't think his comments would have put a few of the Galaxy fans' noses out of joint? The arrogance of this guy amazes me...please don't come back and go over to Europe and model and play or do whatever it is you do nowadays....
- Ali Sichilongo, London
Beckham did not win one piece of silverware for his country as "Captain" of the England soccer squad. Over rated and over paid, his era is over along with WAGS, Sven and expensive ads for pants. Spurs & Chelsea will be wasting fans money on a "has been."
- Ricky, Hackney, London
LA Galaxy and Galaxy fans paid good money for Beckham´s services and he has clearly short-changed everybody. At the end of the day, we can clearly see he is a very selfish, self-centred man who cares little for his fans. As a result, his reputation is in shreds. Hardly the best ambassador for soccer.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
Can someone tell me if Beckham has taken up boxing?
Note to the Americans; Please keep David Beckham and his ghastly wife in California for ever. Thank you.
- Kate, London
When you slate the US football/soccer teams the way he did then what do you expect. You'd get exactly the same treatment over here in Europe.
It surprises me that after all Becks has been through over here he'd let the jeers of supporters get to him enough that he has to make a complete fool of himself. What if he'd really gotten into a brawl with someone? It'd have been "bye bye Becks & bye bye...uh, the other one"
- Lucy, London, UK
This story pretty much gets it right. I am a member of the LA Riot Squad, the supporter group that was jeering becks. Also many other fans were booing him in the stadium not just us but we had the banners. There were also a lot of cheers for him don't get me wrong.
Before the half Milan had a corner in front of us at which point Becks is already making gestures at us. We are the season ticket holders that have been paying for his $6 mil a year by the way. A few minutes later at the half he jumps over an advertisement board and comes to our section and starts gesturing at one of our guy to go down there. Becks called him out and our guy called his bluff and jumped down.
Then our guy gets tackled by security. For a man who claims to be professional it was really disgusting for him to call out a fan even if we are giving him hell. As a pro player he should be able to deal with that kind of stuff. We got to him and he wouldn't let it go. Completely unprofessional and childish on Becks part.
- Galaxyfanla, Los Angeles, USA
Please don't send him home, we don't want him, let Brand Beckham stay Stateside.
- Bob, Cheam
He's past it - the publics love affair has moved onto younger more committed players - he's just interested in getting as much for "Brand Beckham" - maybe people can finally see what his motives are - him and his fake career wife are just in it for the publicity - move over for the next generation
- David, soton
oooh. Are the Americans finally tiring of this jaded circus act that is the 'Beckhams'?
- Jon, London, UK
