David Beckham may have retired from football in 2013, but he remains one of the most famous athletes on the planet. The rise, fall and rise from Manchester United player to global superstar is documented in the new Netflix series Beckham. Among other things, it talks about a critical moment. Beyond all the magical moments Beckham enjoyed on the football pitch, there was one incident that threatened to overshadow his career: when he received a red card at the 1998 World Cup.
A bit of sporting and historical detail: Despite being on different continents, England and Argentina have had a great football rivalry over the decades and some of their victories over each other have been the subject of debate.
When England and Argentina met in the round of 16 at the 1998 World Cup, Beckham received a red card in the 2-2 draw and was sent off. Argentina's Diego Simeone initially knocked Beckham down and when he got to his feet, touched David on the head as the British star lay face down.
In response, Beckham - who was still on the ground - stuck out his leg and Simeone went down. The referee gave a red card to Beckham. England had to play the rest of the match with 10 men against Argentina's 11. The match went to overtime and penalties. In conclusion, Argentina won 4-3.
Beckham u përball me reagime të ashpra nga tifozët dhe mediat angleze pas ndeshjes. Një titull nga Daily Mirror e përshkroi ekipin si "10 luanë heroikë, një djalë budalla”. Ndërkohë, Beckham mori kërcënime me vdekje nga fansat. Një figurë e tij u var jashtë një bari në Londër.
Kur u kthye me Manchester United pas Kupës së Botës, menaxheri i skuadrës Sir Alex Ferguson u godit me gurë dhe gota birre, ndërsa tifozët bërtisnin, "Ne e urrejmë Beckham-in" dhe "Zhgënjeve vendin tënd”.
Beckham tha se ndihej i zhgënjyer nga shokët e skuadrës që nuk e mbështetën pas kartonit të kuq. Ai tha, “Ndoshta është e ashpër të thuash se ende ndihem i zhgënjyer nga kjo. Unë kthej kohën prapa në atë moment dhe ne ishim të rinj. Po, kam bërë një gabim, por ka njerëz të caktuar në skuadra dhe në futboll që ju prisni t'ju mbështesin pa marrë parasysh se çfarë."
Sidoqoftë, Ferguson ishte një nga njerëzit e parë që ofroi mbështetje. “Në mëngjes më pas, [Ferguson] më telefonoi herët dhe më tha, 'A je mirë bir?' I thashë po. Dhe ai thjesht tha, 'Mos u shqetëso, largohu për disa javë...kthehu në klub dhe na ke ne'. Kjo ishte gjithçka që më duhej të dëgjoja”.
Miku dhe partneri i biznesit i Beckham, David Gardner, tha se ai kujton njerëzit që pështynin David Beckham-in në rrugë ose godisnin xhamat e makinës në semafor.
Beckham went through a dark period of depression; everything he experienced was extreme. "The whole country hated me," he said. The former footballer added that he still punishes himself for the red card 25 years later.
England and Beckham got their revenge four years later. The two teams met in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup when Beckham was England captain. He scored England's only goal and the team won 1-0. As a result, Argentina was eliminated.
Beckham began to be worshiped again in the eyes of many fans after scoring the winning goal. The Times wrote the next day that the football star "woke with his halo brighter than ever".
