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10-12-04, 11:32 AM
<b><a href = "http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-wcup-beckhamsuspension&prov=ap&type=lgns">Beckham admits he deliberately got suspended because of injury</b></a>
By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Soccer Writer
October 12, 2004
LONDON (AP) -- England captain David Beckham thought he was being "clever" by deliberately getting a yellow card. The ploy could backfire and land him in trouble with his coach and soccer's governing body.
Beckham said he drew a foul intentionally in Saturday's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Wales. He knew he would already miss the next game because he broke a rib a few minutes earlier.
"It was deliberate," Beckham said in Tuesday's British newspapers. "I am sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever, but I do have the brains."
Beckham went into Saturday's match already carrying one yellow card from a previous game. Under international rules, a player who picks up two yellows in qualifying is automatically suspended for one game.
Beckham got himself suspended for Wednesday's qualifier against Azerbaijan, knowing he would miss the game anyway because of his injury. That means he would have no yellow card hanging over him for subsequent matches.
Beckham was injured in a second-half collision with Wales' defender Ben Thatcher. Moments later, he fouled Thatcher to get the yellow card.
"I knew straight away I had broken my ribs," he said. "I have done it before. I knew I will be out for a few weeks, so I thought: "Let's get the yellow card out of the way.'"
FIFA spokesman John Schumacher said the world governing body had no immediate comment but did not rule out possible disciplinary action against Beckham for unsportsmanlike contact.
William Gaillard, spokesman for European governing body UEFA, said Beckham had not set a good example.
"Certainly, if this is true, it is against the spirit of fair play," he said. "But it has nothing to with us. It's in FIFA's hands."
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, usually quick to praise and defend his captain, said he would deal with the issue after Wednesday's Group 6 game in Baku.
"I will know what I will do on Thursday or Friday, please wait until then," he said.
Michael Owen, who takes over as captain in Beckham's absence, did not want to be drawn into the matter.
"In some areas of the game pros try to bend rules and that has been going on since day one," he said. "In a way we can breathe a sigh of relief for future games, if a positive can be taken out of it."
"I'm his mate so I want to stick up for him but, obviously if I go one way or the other I'll get as much criticism as him," Beckham's Real Madrid teammate said at a news conference. "I think all the team will stick by him no matter what happens."
Beckham, who scored a spectacular 25-yard goal against Wales, will be out of action about a month as the hairline fracture heals. He will also miss several Spanish League games and Champions League matches. He doesn't expect to face Spain in England's friendly in Madrid Nov. 17.
"It's a frustrating injury because there is no treatment. I can't go running or training because it hurts too much," Beckham said. "If you come back too soon, you can damage it again. I am in constant pain. I have been on painkillers."
<i><font size = 1>AP Sports Writer Erica Bulman in Geneva contributed to this story.</i></font>
By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Soccer Writer
October 12, 2004
LONDON (AP) -- England captain David Beckham thought he was being "clever" by deliberately getting a yellow card. The ploy could backfire and land him in trouble with his coach and soccer's governing body.
Beckham said he drew a foul intentionally in Saturday's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Wales. He knew he would already miss the next game because he broke a rib a few minutes earlier.
"It was deliberate," Beckham said in Tuesday's British newspapers. "I am sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever, but I do have the brains."
Beckham went into Saturday's match already carrying one yellow card from a previous game. Under international rules, a player who picks up two yellows in qualifying is automatically suspended for one game.
Beckham got himself suspended for Wednesday's qualifier against Azerbaijan, knowing he would miss the game anyway because of his injury. That means he would have no yellow card hanging over him for subsequent matches.
Beckham was injured in a second-half collision with Wales' defender Ben Thatcher. Moments later, he fouled Thatcher to get the yellow card.
"I knew straight away I had broken my ribs," he said. "I have done it before. I knew I will be out for a few weeks, so I thought: "Let's get the yellow card out of the way.'"
FIFA spokesman John Schumacher said the world governing body had no immediate comment but did not rule out possible disciplinary action against Beckham for unsportsmanlike contact.
William Gaillard, spokesman for European governing body UEFA, said Beckham had not set a good example.
"Certainly, if this is true, it is against the spirit of fair play," he said. "But it has nothing to with us. It's in FIFA's hands."
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, usually quick to praise and defend his captain, said he would deal with the issue after Wednesday's Group 6 game in Baku.
"I will know what I will do on Thursday or Friday, please wait until then," he said.
Michael Owen, who takes over as captain in Beckham's absence, did not want to be drawn into the matter.
"In some areas of the game pros try to bend rules and that has been going on since day one," he said. "In a way we can breathe a sigh of relief for future games, if a positive can be taken out of it."
"I'm his mate so I want to stick up for him but, obviously if I go one way or the other I'll get as much criticism as him," Beckham's Real Madrid teammate said at a news conference. "I think all the team will stick by him no matter what happens."
Beckham, who scored a spectacular 25-yard goal against Wales, will be out of action about a month as the hairline fracture heals. He will also miss several Spanish League games and Champions League matches. He doesn't expect to face Spain in England's friendly in Madrid Nov. 17.
"It's a frustrating injury because there is no treatment. I can't go running or training because it hurts too much," Beckham said. "If you come back too soon, you can damage it again. I am in constant pain. I have been on painkillers."
<i><font size = 1>AP Sports Writer Erica Bulman in Geneva contributed to this story.</i></font>