Beckham: I fouled deliberately to cancel yellow card
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-12 15:33

England captain David Beckham says he deliberately sought a booking after breaking a rib against Wales last Saturday so he could serve out a one-match suspension while sidelined by the injury.

"It was deliberate," Beckham was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

England's David Beckham (L) walks from the pitch with team doctor Leif Sward after being substituted during the game against Wales in their World Cup, European Zone, Group Six qualifier at Old Trafford, Manchester, October 9, 2004. England won the match 2-0. [Reuters]

"I could feel the injury ... I knew straight away I had broken my ribs ... I knew I will be out for a few weeks so I thought: 'Let's get the yellow card out of the way,'" Beckham said.

The Real Madrid midfielder, already on a yellow card from a previous international, was injured in a collision with Ben Thatcher late in the World Cup qualifier against Wales at Old Trafford.

He stayed on the pitch long enough to launch a heavy tackle on Thatcher a few minutes later and referee Terje Hauge duly booked him.

Under FIFA rules the accumulation of two yellow cards in separate games means automatic suspension for the next international.

"I am sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever ... but I do have the brains," Beckham was quoted as saying.

Beckham, who scored a spectacular goal to put England 2-0 up before his injury, will miss a qualifier away to Azerbaijan on Wednesday.His place could be taken by Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves.

Beckham could be out of action for several weeks with the hairline fracture to his rib but Real Madrid said on Monday he would resume light training soon.

England top Group Six with seven points from three matches, one clear of nearest pursuers Poland. Azerbaijan have two points from three games and are second bottom in the group.

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