David Beckham made a minor protest against his club Real Madrid by taking the field for Arsenal defender Martin Keown’s testimonial match in London on Monday just 24 hours after being sent off for the Spanish giants.
Former Manchester United midfielder Beckham had been told by Real he could kick off but not play in the benefit match for England teammate Keown. However, he stayed on the pitch after the whistle blew.
But any prospect of Beckham making a prolonged stand against Real’s ruling were ended when he was substituted after three minutes playing for an England XI managed by former national coach Kevin Keegan against an Arsenal XI featuring centre-back Keown.
The Arsenal XI won the Highbury match 6-0 with striker Jose Reyes netting a hat-trick, Jeremie Aliadiere scoring twice and England full-back Ashley Cole also scoring, while Keown had a penalty saved.
Keown, 38 in July, is out of contract with Premiership champions Arsenal after a season where the Londoners became the first club in more than a century to go through a top-flight English season unbeaten.
He first joined Arsenal in 1982 as a trainee but had spells away from the club at Everton and Aston Villa before returning to Highbury in 1993. — Sapa-AFP