In the England vs Argentina game at the 1998 World Cup, Beckham was sent off for kicking Simeone in the 47th minute of the game when the scoreline was 2-2. Argentina then beat England 4-3 in the penalty shootout.
In retrospection, it might have been just one of those eventful moments in the remarkable life of David Beckham. But at the time, it was one of the unbelievably shocking moments when an upcoming English hero failed to serve his nation honourably.
Although the game had several noteworthy events (including an astonishing goal by Michael Owen), the game is still remembered for David Beckham’s sending off. After being fouled by Diego Simeone, Mr Golden-balls Beckham lying on the ground vented his frustration with a cheeky little flick of his right-leg tripping over a backwards-walking Simeone.
The referee saw it as an unlawful act of petulance and showed Beckham the red card leaving England a man down early in the second half. With the game locked at 2-2, England held on to the draw and eventually lost the game on penalties.
The game began and ended with penalties. It was Simeone himself who won an early penalty which was converted by Gabriel Batistuta. England equalised through a penalty of their own before an 18-year old Michael Owen briefly stole the show with one of the goals in World Cup history! Argentina equalised before half time and the game ended 2-2 at the end of 120 minutes.
The game is also remembered for the confusion ensuing a disallowed headed goal from Sol Campbell in the dying minutes of the game. As the England players began to celebrate a winning goal the referee blew for a foul that Alan Shearer had committed on the Argentine goalkeeper prior to the goal and disallowed it. The consequent free-kick was taken very quickly, while the England players were still celebrating, Darren Anderton one of the few English players to realise the referee’s decision made a last-ditch tackle to prevent Argentina from scoring.
A seemingly tired English side then lost out on penalties after Paul Ince and David Batty failed to convert their spot-kicks. Argentina went on to win 4-3 on penalties.
Being a dead ball specialist, Beckham would have been one of the five penalty takers during the shootout and would have been expected to score. Instead it was left to David Batty to take and eventually miss the last penalty. An 11-man English side would also have been expected to possibly beat Argentina in regulation time. Not for the first time, the English fans back home were left bitterly disappointed after being knocked out of the World Cup. Unsurprisingly, it was Beckham facing the brunt of the criticism.
Years of abuse would follow the incident. The press vilified David Beckham and his effigies were burnt outside London pubs. The headline in The Daily Mirror the following day described the England team as: "10 Heroic Lions, One Stupid Boy". Beckham was to be voted the 91st worst Briton in Channel Four's poll of the 100 Worst Britons. He also reportedly received death threats and was taunted by a group of England supporters during a 3-2 defeat against Portugal in Euro 2000.
Though Beckham was to revive his international career in an emphatic fashion in 2001, the scathing criticism piled upon him until then was alarmingly unfair. The red card itself was debatable considering the tame nature of the offence. Simeone indeed admitted to trying to get Beckham sent off by over-reacting to the kick and then, along with other members of his team, urging the referee to send Beckham off.
David was to eventually avenge the defeat and redeem himself four years later, by scoring a penalty in a 1-0 victory over the same rivals in the 2002 edition of the World Cup. For Beckham, it was to prove the beginning of an "on and off" with the British and global media. He would go on to taste the highest highs and lowest lows of public and media affection. There was to be a never moment in the life of David Beckham.