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1999-2000 season
Despite Beckham's achievements in the 1998-99 season, he was still unpopular
among opposition fans and many journalists, and he was heavily criticised after
being sent off for a deliberate foul in Manchester United's World Club
Championship match against Necaxa. It was suggested in the press that his wife
was a bad influence on him, and that it might be in United's interests to sell
him, but his manager publicly backed him and he stayed at the club.
The relationship between Ferguson and Beckham began to deteriorate, possibly as
a result of Beckham's fame and commitments away from football. In 2000, Beckham
was given permission to miss training to look after his son Brooklyn, who had
gastroenteritis, but Ferguson was furious when Victoria Beckham was photographed
at a London Fashion Week event on the same night, claiming that Beckham would
have been able to train if Victoria had looked after Brooklyn that day. He
responded by fining Beckham the maximum amount that was permitted (two weeks'
wages – then ￡50,000) and dropping him for a crucial match against United's
rivals Leeds United. He later criticised Beckham for this in his autobiography,
claiming he hadn't been "fair to his team mates". Beckham had a good season for
his club, though, and helped United to win the Premier League by a record
margin.
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