Beckham dragged into Swiss political campaign
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Switzerland - Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has become unwittingly involved in regional Swiss politics after his photo was used to promote the election campaign of a former professional referee-turned politician.
The photo, carried by several Swiss newspapers last week, shows the former England captain shaking hands with Philippe Leuba ahead of a 2005 friendly between England and Argentina.
Leuba is standing in local government elections in the western Swiss region of Vaud and a thought bubble placed next to Beckham in the photo has the player supposedly wishing: "I hope you are just as impartial in the state parliament as you were on the football pitch."
Beckham's management said on Thursday they had already taken steps to prevent further distribution of the campaign photo.
"The individual in question did not seek approval with regards to the use of David's image and our lawyers have been in contact to see that the image is taken out of circulation," Beckham's spokesman Simon Oliveira said.
Shortly afterwards Leuba, 41, said there were no plans to reuse the image and that he himself had never authorised the campaign.
"It was just a joke, a surprise that a friend arranged for me in the newspapers," Leuba told Reuters. "I got a mail from Beckham's lawyers which I have passed on to the advertising agency involved but the whole thing is finished anyway.
"It was never part of my official campaign and I think it's amazing that it has got so much attention. I don't think anybody in Switzerland would really have thought that David Beckham was supporting my campaign or even knew anything about it." -
Becks could sue the people responsible for the campaign using a writ of defamation.
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wah alot of news hor after he came back for Real game against RS..
its so normal -
everywhere aso becks this becks that
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MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Pallister has added his voice to the growing clamour for David Beckham to be restored to the England squad. Pallister says his former Old Trafford team-mate should never have been axed from the national squad in the first place. And he feels Beckham has proved a point with his outstanding displays since being recalled by Real Madrid.
Pally, who played more than 300 games for United, said: “The fact is we still need David in the team. “He is a quality player who has shown he definitely still has what it takes to play at the top level, so Steve McClaren should bring him back in from the cold.
“I couldn’t understand why McClaren left him out anyway. “People talked about David having a poor World Cup but he scored and created goals. Tell me who has been doing that among the people who have tried to replace him?
“David’s experience would be invaluable in the Euro 2008 qualifiers because we suddenly find ourselves under a lot of pressure. “But experience isn’t enough if you can’t cut it — and I have absolutely no doubts about David on that score.”
Boss McClaren will travel to check on Becks for the first time since dropping him when he goes to watch Bayern Munich host Real in the Champions League on March 7. McClaren will also be able to check on Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves.