England captain David Beckham on Monday issued a televised warning to the nation's soccer fans that their xenophobic, violent behavior could get the team kicked out of the European Championship.
In a recorded message broadcast on national networks ahead of yesterday's friendly against Serbia-Montenegro at Leicester, the Manchester United player -- who misses the game because of a fractured wrist -- said hooligans were putting the team at risk.
UEFA has already fined the English Football Association after fans jeered the Turkish anthem and invaded the field during a Euro 2004 qualifying victory at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in April. Troublemakers also fought outside the stadium and in the city center.
PHOTO: REUTERS
UEFA warned that any repeats could lead to a ban from the Euro 2004 championship in Portugal.
"It is going to get us in a lot of trouble, we have been warned already. We don't want to face elimination from the competition, that is the last thing we want," Beckham said.
"Racism, violence and jumping on the pitch has to be put out of the game. There are children at the game who get scared.
Back to the future
AC Milan's pursuit of Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has cooled amid bidding wars and concerns over conflicts of interest with the player's sponsors, Italian newspapers reported Monday.
"To see him at Milan is impossible. It takes a lot of money, too much money," Milan daily Corriere della Sera quoted club vice president Adriano Galliani as saying.
Corriere reported that Milan was unable to match a proposed bid for Beckham of US$52.6 million by Barcelona.
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