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2003-2005
First season 2003-04
Beckham immediately became a favourite with the Real Madrid supporters, scoring
five times in his first 16 matches, but the team, whose club president expected
them to win either the Spanish league or the Champions League each season, was
not performing well. He had further problems in April 2004, when the British
tabloid News of the World carried claims by his former personal assistant
Rebecca Loos that he and Loos had had an extramarital affair. A week later, the
Malaysian-born Australian model Sarah Marbeck claimed that she had slept with
Beckham on two occasions. Beckham dismissed both accusations as "ludicrous".
Real Madrid finished the season in a disappointing fourth place, and were
knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage.
Euro 2004
Beckham played in all of England's matches at Euro 2004, but the tournament was
a disappointment for him. He had a penalty saved in England's 2-1 defeat to
France and badly missed another in a penalty shootout in the quarter final
against Portugal. England lost the shootout and went out of the competition.
Second season, 2004-05
In July 2004, while Beckham was in pre-season training in Spain, an intruder
scaled a wall at the Beckhams' home while carrying a can of petrol. Victoria and
their children were in the house at the time, but security guards apprehended
the man before he reached the house. Beckham made more headlines on 9 October
2004 when he admitted intentionally fouling Ben Thatcher in an England match
against Wales in order to get himself booked. Beckham was due to receive a
one-match suspension for his next caution, and had picked up an injury which he
knew would keep him out of England's next match, so he deliberately fouled
Thatcher in order to serve his suspension in a match that he would have had to
miss anyway. The Football Association asked Beckham for an explanation of his
actions and he admitted that he had "made a mistake" and apologised.
Beckham became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in January 2005 and was involved in
promoting London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.
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