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David Beckham was fined $US1,000 ($A1,230) by Major League Soccer on Friday for taunting his club’s fans and suggesting they leave their seats and come on the field.
The English star confronted Los Angeles Galaxy fans in a group called the LA Riot Squad during last Sunday’s 2-2 friendly draw with AC Milan. Beckham played with AC Milan this year and was booed through much of the game.
“We support our players interacting with fans, whether it is at clinics, charity events or by high-fiving their supporters in the stands while celebrating a goal,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said. “However, our players should never engage in conduct that can be interpreted as encouraging fans to come out of the stands and onto the field, regardless of the reason.”
At halftime, Beckham walked toward the group while shouting and pointing. He challenged fans to meet him on the field and tried to lift himself over advertising boards before security intervened. Police arrested a fan who left the stands.
Then after a second-half corner kick in front of the Riot Squad’s section, Beckham immediately turned to those fans, put his index finger to his lips, shrugged his shoulders and blew them a kiss. The kick resulted in a goal.
Beckham has been unapologetic about his actions.
“At the end of the day, I play my game,” Beckham said on Thursday. “If it’s not good enough for some people, as long as it’s good enough for myself and the team, nothing else matters.”
The Riot Squad blamed Beckham for agitating the situation in a statement on the group’s website on Thursday.
“Had David responded differently on Sunday, the booing and the chanting probably would have ended at halftime,” the statement said. “We don’t believe questioning Beckham’s commitment to our team is over the line, but it’s clear that David feels otherwise.”
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