Bending it like Becks

[mccutcheon]

Pleading it like Becks. England is a backward, xenophobic, fuck wad of a country. Their players have to go on TV and ask their fans not to be racist.

LONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - David Beckham has made an unprecedented television appeal urging fans not to damage England's chances of reaching the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

"We are working as a team to try and reach the finals of this competition and hopefully the fans are not going to spoil it," the England captain said on Monday.

"Respect has to be shown to the opposition. Booing the national anthem is disrespectful. Racism and jumping on the pitch has definitely got to stop.

"It's going to get us in a lot of trouble."

England's Football Association have been fined and warned about the future conduct of supporters after racist abuse, two pitch invasions and 95 arrests marred a European championship qualifying victory over Turkey in April.

UEFA's outgoing chief executive Gerhard Aigner warned of "extreme measures" if the scenes were repeated.

"England fans -- just get behind the team and do it in a nice way, because we deserve it. We don't want to be eliminated from the competition," added the Manchester United midfielder.

Beckham will miss Tuesday's friendly against Serbia and Montenegro in Leicester and the qualifier against Slovakia at Middlesbrough on June 11 through injury and suspension.

I guess not everyone got the message in the feel good film, Bend It Like Beckham.