via Getty
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – AUGUST 18: Owner & President of Soccer Operations David Beckham of Inter Miami CF and his wife Victoria Beckham watch the match against Chicago Fire FC during the first half at DRV PNK Stadium on August 18, 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
via Getty
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – AUGUST 18: Owner & President of Soccer Operations David Beckham of Inter Miami CF and his wife Victoria Beckham watch the match against Chicago Fire FC during the first half at DRV PNK Stadium on August 18, 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
David Beckham has had a career that has been full of ups and downs. As one of the world’s most recognizable athletes, Beckham is no stranger to public scrutiny. But his recent endorsement deal with Qatar has drawn significant heat from fans. The English legend has always been a shrewd businessman, but his involvement with Qatar went beyond simply endorsements and appearances. He was named as an ambassador for Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup.
Fans argue that reports of human rights violations and mistreatment of the LGBTQ+ community mar Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup. By taking on an ambassadorial role for the tournament, they say Beckham is effectively endorsing Qatar’s repressive regime. Moreover, it’s been widely reported that Beckham was paid a whopping $14 million for his involvement.
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Even after all the backlash from fans, Beckham remained quiet. But after a while, he finally released a statement. However, it seems the fans are not content and refuse to believe the England legend.
Soccer fans react to David Beckham statement
Some fans have been critical of David Beckham’s recent statement, accusing him of writing it for the money. A lot of other fans questioned his motives and criticized him for not addressing the real issues. Some other fans have also questioned whether the statement was written by an AI or not. While Beckham is undoubtedly a soccer legend, his decision to work with Qatar has tarnished his reputation in the eyes of many. His fans feel that he is selling out for money and that he is turning a blind eye to the abuses taking place in Qatar.
Here are some of the reactions from the fans:
That's a lot of words to say "I just like money". Up to him what he does/thinks but slightly disingenuous to suggest his motivation was acting for the greater good rather than because they paid him a shitload of cash. https://t.co/0ftLrsH5nU
— BitsyVonMuffling (@ttittifilarious) December 16, 2022
Amazing what $10 million+ can buy in just a few words. https://t.co/3qEcdSAAXJ
— Dáithí K (@tvcritics) December 16, 2022
Just take the bags of money and go, Becks. https://t.co/936w70dWHD pic.twitter.com/hP3U62yrcD
— Danforth (@cpdanforth) December 16, 2022
“Also they pay me a shitload of money!” https://t.co/ixswyvTc4X
— Malin H (@OneMalinH) December 16, 2022
Pathetic from David Beckham, this. As bland a statement as his team could possibly muster, that doesn't actually address any of the criticism.
Wonder if it was all worth it. https://t.co/53v5ixNdwj
— GoalScorer Challenge ⚽️ (@GoalscorerC) December 16, 2022
I wouldn't wipe a leper's arse with that statement. I find it offensive, and I'm not part of the LGBTQ+ community. He may as well just have said, "Well, I got paid anyway." https://t.co/3CXJrSw7Cq
— Mark S (@ 🏠) (@jacobs_ladder71) December 16, 2022
Eeesh, this and the information that David Beckham blocked the only openly gay Qatari on Instagram when he tagged him in a post.
This statement looks like it was written by an algorithm that was set up to write a statement about something completely different 😵💫 https://t.co/2EHcK4KKqC
— Stephen Byrne (@stephenbyrne) December 16, 2022
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Was this written by AI? An absolute masterclass in how to say lots of words without saying anything at all. https://t.co/hGGXhbnuZT
— harry x (@harryjonesxx) December 16, 2022
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Only time will tell if Beckham can repair the damage to his image, but for now, it seems that his legacy is in jeopardy. What are your thoughts regarding this statement? Let us know down below in the comment section.
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