foul play
David Beckham sparks backlash as he refers to ‘soccer’ while presenting Bafta gong
The superstar footballer upset Brits as he presented an award for Outstanding Debut
DAVID Beckham has been blasted for using the American term for football while on stage at the Baftas.
The world famous footballer was presenting the gong for Outstanding Debut at the biggest night in British cinema.
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However, viewers were upset he chose to "pander" to Americans by calling football "soccer" at the 77th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday evening.
"They say that practice makes perfect," Becks said on stage.
"Well, that might be true in football - or soccer - but that's not true for the filmmakers nominated for Outstanding Debut. They got it right first time."
One viewer said: "David Beckham it's a British awards show, you don't need to mention soccer."
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Another added: "Don't say soccer, Dave. Pandering to the Americans."
It comes as...
- The winners of this year's Baftas have been announced
- Oppenheimer scoops seven gongs as it dominates Baftas
- Margot Robbie's Barbie snubbed as it fails to get a single gong
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor wows with killer performance
- David Tennant's hosting debut misses the mark
- Prince William attends Baftas without Princess Kate
- Emily Atack shows off her growing baby bump
- Singer Dua Lipa and lover Callum Turner hit the carpet
- Eurovision star Hannah Waddingham moves viewers to tears
- Emma Stone crashes into a TV camera in awkward live blunder
- Bafta fans 'switch off' over a 'cringe' Ted Lasso act
Becks, a former Manchester United, Real Madrid and England footballer, has spent a lot of time in the US as a player at LA Galaxy, as well as for AC Milan and PSG.
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He is now the owner of MLS team Inter Miami in America.
The 48-year-old is also famous for being a model and for his relationship with Spice Girls wife Victoria Beckham, who was absent from Sunday night's awards ceremony.
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Recently, Victoria has been focused on launching her jewellery and sunglasses range, as well as her fashion company.
Meanwhile, Becks watched on from the crowd as Oppenhemer won the battle against Barbie at the EE Baftas, scooping seven awards.
The epic thriller about the creation of the atomic bomb was named Best Film.
But Barbie missed out in every category, with stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling flying in from LA but leaving empty-handed.
The 77th British Academy Film Awards in a snapshot
SHOWBIZ expert Amanda Devlin gives her take on the Bafta results...
It was a top night for Christopher Nolan's epic biopic Oppenheimer.
The film scooped seven awards out of 13 nominations as it dominated the ceremony.
Nolan won Best Director for the first time in his career - and earned a standing ovation from the audience.
Leading actor winner Cillian Murphy received rapturous applause as his name was announced.
Oppenheimer's success was closely followed by Poor Things, which took home five gongs including Emma Stone's win as Leading Actress.
She beat Margot Robbie to the award, meaning Barbie left empty-handed after being snubbed by Bafta.
Her co-star Ryan Gosling also missed out on Supporting Actor - and struggled to understand a Coronation Street-related joke made by host David Tennant.
The Zone of Interest won Outstanding British Film and Film Not in English.
Meanwhile Oompa Loompa actor Hugh Grant took a cheeky swipe at the Bafta nominees about their films being "too long" in a Willy Wonka gag.
Back to the Future legendary actor Michael J Fox had everyone up on their feet as he came on stage in a wheelchair to present Best Film.
The star - who has Parkinson's - was cheered as he took the final steps to the podium to announce Oppenheimer's success.
Making the most of the evening, Becks was seen laughing as he shook hands with Prince William who attended the event as president of Bafta.
But it was his meeting with a Back to the Future legend who made his night.
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Becks wrote: "I cannot believe I got to meet Michael J Fox.
"Also a little starstruck to meet so many talented people that I’ve watched on the big screen at Bafta."
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