Victoria Beckham has revealed she couldn’t bear the thought of her son Romeo being publicly ridiculed like David was after England’s elimination from the 1998 World Cup.
Romeo, 22, followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a football career, first playing for Fort Lauderdale FC and then Brentford B, although he has since focused on modelling.
talking to Harper’s BazaarFashion designer Victoria, 50, recalled how David, 48, was blamed for England’s elimination from the World Cup.
The soccer star was sent off against Argentina after kicking Diego Simeone in the back of the leg, attacking the Argentine captain after he had thrown him to the ground.
Recalling the criticism her husband received, Victoria said: “I mean, when it happened, David was the same age that Romeo is now,
Victoria Beckham has revealed she couldn’t bear the thought of her son Romeo being publicly ridiculed like David was after England’s elimination from the 1998 World Cup.
Romeo, 22, followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a football career, first playing for Fort Lauderdale FC and then Brentford B, although he has since focused on modelling.
David was sent off against Argentina after kicking Diego Simeone in the back of the leg, attacking the Argentine captain after he had knocked him to the ground.
“That’s a lot for a 22-year-old kid. When you’re in it, you have that sink-or-swim feeling and you just keep going. And we had each other, and the rest is history.
‘But the idea of my Romeo having to go through that… I don’t know how I would handle it. I don’t know how anyone would handle that. But we had no choice.”
In his Netflix documentary Beckham, David admitted that he didn’t sleep or eat after the public criticism that emerged after the World Cup.
He said: “I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it just because I can’t.” I wasn’t eating. I wasn’t sleeping. It took a toll on me that I didn’t even know it myself.
After England’s defeat in the round of 16, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger had to watch as England lost the match on penalties.
The footballer was constantly booed and jeered by fans of rival clubs for most of the following 1998-99 season, with a burning effigy of him and death threats among the worst reactions to his red card.
Last year, Victoria turned 50 and said she doesn’t care as much about being in the public eye now.
She told the magazine: “You have to go through those moments to ultimately become who you are.”
In his Netflix documentary Beckham, David admitted that he didn’t sleep or eat after the public criticism that emerged after the World Cup.
David and Victoria married in 1999 and share children: Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 13 (pictured at the premiere of David’s documentary last year).
The December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale now
‘We’ve figured out how to be quite discreet, which is exactly how we want to lead our lives at the moment.
“I guess it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street, and you’d get dressed knowing you were going to get that. I don’t want that anymore.
‘I’ve been doing this too long. I guess I did when I was a kid, but there’s too much going on nowadays; too busy; Too many kids to worry about.
“I woke up at 50 and gave less.”
The December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale now.
