28/06/2012

Beckham 'Very Disappointed' At Team GB Snub

International football star David Beckham has been left out of Team GB's Olympic football squad.

The former England captain, who helped lead the London bid for the Olympics, said he was "very disappointed" at the snub.

Mr Beckham, 37, flew in from Los Angeles last month to light the Olympic Flame and mark its arrival on UK soil.

He has more than 100 England caps but Micah Richards, Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs are the only over-23 year-old players who have been selected.

Mr Beckham said today: "Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me. So I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad. Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold. As a Londoner, I will have been really proud to have played a small part in bringing the Olympics to my home town as part of Seb's [Coe] team, and I can't wait for the games to begin and enjoy every moment along with the rest of Great Britain."

His gracious words come after Stuart Pearce called him to say that despite being on the shortlist, he had not made the final cut.

Gay Lineker tweeted that it was a "terrible shame", while Robbie Savage said the decision was "clueless".

(NE)

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