Beckham escapes action for deliberate booking
David Beckham has escaped disciplinary action for his deliberate yellow card against Wales after the Football Association today decided there was “insufficient evidence” to charge the England captain.
Beckham last week admitted his yellow card awarded for a foul on Ben Thatcher was intentional because he knew he would miss the next game through injury and wanted to wipe out his existing caution by serving a one-match suspension.
The FA demanded an explanation from Beckham and launched a disciplinary investigation but have concluded they cannot charge the Real Madrid midfielder with bringing the game into disrepute – but they have “reminded him of his responsibilities”.
Beckham was no doubt helped by his formal apology which followed his initial admission when he said sorry to England fans, players, officials and head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
“I know that as captain you are in a privileged position and must always abide by FIFA’s code of fair play. On this occasion I made a mistake,” he said last week.
The storm blew up when, in an interview with a newspaper, Beckham had boasted about his deliberate tactic.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “It was deliberate. I am sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever, but I do have the brains.
“I could feel the injury. So I fouled Thatcher. It was deliberate. I knew straight away I had broken my ribs. 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’.”
