Victoria Beckham says David Beckham was ‘clinically depressed’ after 1998 World Cup red card
Victoria Beckham has spoken about the effects on husband David after his 1998 World Cup red card.
The upcoming Netflix docu-series, BECKHAM, dives deeper into the life of the former England football star and his fashion mogul wife.
The trailer was released last month, check it out here:
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In the synopsis for the series, Netflix say: “The series takes you on that rollercoaster and builds a surprising, personal and definitive story of one of the most recognisable and scrutinised athletes of all time.”
Giving ‘unprecedented access’ not only to David but to ‘his wife Victoria, his family, his friends and his team-mates’.
It adds: “The result is an intimate portrait of a man as well as a chronicle of late-modern sports and celebrity culture."
During the series, Victoria recalls the famed red card where, during the Argentina match, David was sent off after kicking Diego Simeone.
England went on to lose the World Cup game in a penalty shoot-out.
The star couple spoke about the abuse they faced towards the end of the 90s following the red card.
An effigy of the Inter Miami boss was even hung in a pub as a response.
Victoria says of her husband during BECKHAM: “He was absolutely broken. He was in pieces.
"He was really depressed, absolutely clinically depressed. It pained me so much, I still want to kill these people.”
And David adds: “I wish there was a pill you could take which could erase certain memories.
"I made a stupid mistake. It changed my life. (The questions when he came back) 'how do you feel about letting your country down?' and 'you are a disgrace'.
"We were in America, just about to have our first baby, and I thought 'we will be fine, in a day or two people will have forgotten'… I find it hard to talk through what I went through because it was so extreme.
"Wherever I went, I got abused every single day… I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping. I was a mess. I didn't know what to do.”
David previously described that day as his toughest moment as a professional football player.
He told LADbible: “The toughest moment was when I got a red card in the World Cup against Argentina. That probably was the most difficult moment because people were doubting me as a player, as a professional, and I went through a difficult time, on and off the pitch.
“But I was at Manchester United at the time and I had a great manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, that supported me. A great team, great teammates. And more importantly, the fans at Manchester United got me through the difficult moments.”
BECKHAM is set to release on Netflix on 4 October.
Topics: Celebrity, David Beckham, Football, Netflix, Victoria Beckham, Mental Health
Jess Battison