Football icon draws criticism for referring to sport as ‘soccer’ during bafta presentation, fans express displeasure online

David Beckham, the renowned football icon, faced backlash from fans after a misstep during his presentation at the 2024 Bafta Awards. While onstage at the Royal Festival Hall, Beckham, 48, presented the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer. However, his use of the term ‘soccer’ instead of ‘football’ stirred controversy among viewers.

In what seemed like an innocent slip of the tongue, Beckham referred to the sport as ‘soccer,’ a term commonly used in the United States. This choice of wording didn’t sit well with British fans, who took to social media to express their frustration. Many criticized Beckham for allegedly pandering to American audiences by adopting their terminology for the sport.

On platforms like Twitter, comments flooded in condemning Beckham’s choice of words. One user wrote, “That might be true in football, or soccer – DAVID BECKHAM YOU ARE ON THE BAFTAS DON’T YOU DARE PANDER TO THE AMERICANS!!!” Another expressed similar sentiments, stating, “David Beckham calling football soccer at a British awards show.”

Despite the star-studded atmosphere of the event, with Prince William in attendance among other prominent figures from the film industry, Beckham’s misstep became a focal point of discussion. Some fans questioned his presence at the ceremony altogether, suggesting that he lacked relevance to the film industry.

While Beckham’s blunder garnered attention, the night celebrated many achievements in film, with notable winners including Christopher Nolan for Best Director, Robert Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph for Best Supporting Actress.

Nevertheless, Beckham’s inadvertent error underscored the sensitivity surrounding terminology in sports and the scrutiny that public figures face, even in unrelated contexts like award ceremonies.