the sum of the 5 stories in the Sun this morning:
David Beckham and Alex Ferguson had to be pulled apart by two players
during their amazing dressing-room bust-up. Becks had just been cut above
the left eye by a flying football boot kicked by furious Fergie. He spat at the
Manchester United boss, hitting him on the jacket. It was then the players
jumped in to stop the ugly incident turning into a brawl.
There was an uneasy stand-off between them yesterday, with neither
apparently having apologised.
Fergie said he was in a rage after the game - but revealed his players were
also fuming. And he added: "It was more than me that was upset."
Beckham is struggling with a calf injury and was substituted in the second half
on Saturday - but could now be left out of the side to face the Italians even if
fit. Fergie added: "He is not very well and I do not know if he will make it. I'm
worried because he is one of our key players."
The duo are expected to have showdown talks before the game but it is
feared the rift may be too deep to heal quickly. Beckham believes he was
unfairly singled out for criticism by the boss after their defeat.
Ferguson accused David Beckham of 'cocking-up as a footballer' during the
stunning four-letter tirade that sparked their dramatic bust-up. Manchester
United's manager claimed his England star had not done his defensive duties
in the lead-up to Arsenal's second goal from Sylvain Wiltord in Saturday's
humiliating 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford.
United's dressing room has witnessed some scenes down the years. Yet this
one shocked even the most experienced professionals in the Red ranks.
The scene was one of high emotion and fury between the two biggest names
at the world's biggest club. Beckham's spitting shocked his team-mates as
much as Fergie's boot-kicking. But if the midfield ace now decides his future
lies away from the outfit he joined as a boy, that will not stop a host of entries
thronging to join the hunt for one of football's best and most marketable
names.
Already AC Milan and Real Madrid have alerted agents to seek possible talks
with the superstar, who still has 2½ years left on his current contract.
Becks, 27, told pals he was livid about the dressing room bust-up, which he
feared nearly blinded him. And angry wife Posh, 28, wanted to "go and sort
out" Fergie.
After the boot kicked by fuming Fergie hit him, Becks was reported to have
yelled: "F***ing hell, my head's covered in blood."
His raging boss is said to have then shouted at a club physiotherapist: "Just
f***ing patch him up."
A source close to Becks said the player was "livid" when he was left with a
nasty wound just a centimetre above his left eye that needed two stitches.
The source also revealed that the player's Spice Girl wife Victoria threatened
to "go and sort out" Ferguson when she learned of the clash.
The source said: "Posh was furious and wanted to confront him about it. She's
very protective but David told her not to bother. David was livid. He felt he
could have been blinded, which would have ended his career. His first instinct
when he was hit was to spit at Fergie and it landed on his coat. This will run
and run and we fear it could prompt David to leave his beloved Old Trafford
for good."
Eye expert Jim McGalliard last night said Beckham could indeed have been
blinded by the flying boot.
Mr McGalliard, a consultant at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital's eye
unit, said:
"The potential for serious injury is considerable. A stud could have ruptured
the eyeball, which would have required emergency surgery. It could also have
caused a bleeding eye, cataracts and possible retinal detachment. The worst
case scenario would have been a penetrative injury which could lead to
blindness."
United played down suggestions of a rift between the player and Scot
Ferguson, who have a history of run-ins. A club source said: "It was obviously
an unfortunate accident in the heat of the moment. Sir Alex couldn't hit David
deliberately even if he tried.
"These things happen. They're both grown up and will move on from here. I'm
sure they'll make up — they'll be fine. They've known each other for years. If
you read David's book he says Sir Alex is like a father figure."
And ex-United striker Peter Davenport told how he and team-mate Gordon
Strachan were showered with boiling tea when the manager stormed through
the dressing room door at half-time, sending a tray of cups flying.
Davenport said: "I remember it to this day. But it had the desired effect. We
went out in the second half and played so much better."
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