SOCCER: David Beckham has admitted for the first time he is considering his future at Real Madrid after complaining that he has become virtually a prisoner in his home.
The England captain said he had been under intolerable pressure from the Spanish paparazzi who had "crossed the line" by targeting his children when they were alone at school.
"I've had a couple of incidents in the last two weeks that have really made me sit back and think," he said. "I love playing for Real Madrid, I love Spain and the fans have been incredible, but what I get over there I've not had anywhere else in the world."
He cited one incident where he and his wife, Victoria, were briefly separated from their eldest son, Brooklyn. "I was working and Victoria was looking after our baby boy, Cruz. Brooklyn was going to a football school, but then the paparazzi turned up, started harassing him and chased him into the school. This is a six-year-old little boy I'm talking about and, for me, that is crossing the line. Brooklyn was scared; he was definitely affected by it.
"Another weekend, we had our other son, Romeo, at his nursery school with the paparazzi camped outside taking pictures of him playing with the other kids. Again, that's crossing the line. I'm at the point where I don't know what to do. Victoria and myself have always accepted we're in the limelight and that people are going to want to take pictures of us. But when it comes to your children being out on their own and getting harassed? They should be allowed to go to primary school, nursery school or football school and be left alone. But they're not, and it's becoming a big problem for me."
Beckham was asked whether it would be easier for him to return to England or retire. "I love my children and I love my wife. (But) if I gave in to some of the things that have happened during my career I would be giving in to these people. But when it crosses the line, as it has done with my sons, I really don't know what to do."
Wayne Rooney is also under scrutiny after a student complained he had been hit by the striker in a Manchester club. The police are investigating, but the matter is confused by the fact the alleged victim has yet to press charges. The English Football Association says the allegations will not lead to Rooney's exclusion from the squad.
Chelsea's list of disciplinary charges continued to grow last night as the club and their manager, Jose Mourinho, were indicted for having "tapped up" Arsenal's Ashley Cole. The England left back was also charged.
The London club already face a Uefa hearing next Thursday on charges of disrepute that encompass the conduct of Mourinho, his assistant, Steve Clarke, and the security official Les Miles. If everything conspires against them, Chelsea may be expelled from the Champions League and be docked Premiership points while their controversial manager is banned from the touchline and dressingroom.
"Chelsea Football Club have been charged with a breach of Rule K3, governing approaches to players," said the Premier League in a statement. "Jose Mourinho has been charged with a breach of Rule Q, governing managers' conduct. Ashley Cole has been charged with a breach of Rule K5, governing approaches by players to clubs. The board wish to state that they have so far received co-operation from Chelsea FC, Mr Mourinho and Mr Cole and expect this to continue."
The defendants have 14 days to respond and neither Chelsea nor Arsenal would comment last night.
The commission will have to decide which of Cole and Chelsea are guilty, as rule K3 and rule K5 state that the offence occurs in making the first approach. Premier League rule R36 states that the commission must decide "on the balance of probabilities".
The defence common to Cole and Chelsea has so far been to confess to attending the meeting together at the Royal Park hotel on January 27th but to accuse the other party of having arranged it.
The most unexpected of the charges was Mourinho's and his indictment under rule Q1, which pertains to the code of conduct for managers. "A manager shall not take any steps (including the making of statements to the media) to induce or which are intended to induce any player or other employee employed by another club to act in breach of the terms of his contract with that other club," the code states.
If Mourinho's club are found guilty, and it is known that Peter Kenyon and Chelsea's principal agent, Pini Zahavi, were also at the meeting, there is a range of powers open to the commission.
As well as docking points, it could recommend that the Premiership leaders be expelled from the league or that they be suspended from playing matches, in which case the points would be awarded to the opposition. In theory these outcomes pose a significant threat to Chelsea's expectation of landing their first title in 50 years, but such a punishment would break with precedent.
That Cole should have been charged is unprecedented, since there was no formal complaint made against the Arsenal player for his conduct.
George Best has called on the football authorities north and south of the Border to join together and create a unified national team.
The Northern Irish legend believes Ireland could be a force in world football if the two countries pooled their resources.
"I've always thought that at any given time both the Republic and Northern Ireland have had some great world-class players," said Best in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. "I just believe in trying something. If it doesn't work, at least you've tried. I still hope that in my lifetime it happens. "Why not have a go at it? See what it's like."
