DAVID BECKHAM HAS BEEN SENT A clear message to keep his eye on the ball by officials at Real Madrid. After the club’s stuttering start to the season, the former England captain was left out of last night’s La Liga fixture with Real Sociedad by Fabio Capello, the coach, and Pedrag Mijatovic, the sporting director, banned him from going to Barcelona to film an adidas commercial.

Just as Owen Hargreaves’s broken leg appeared to offer Beckham a possible route back into the England squad, the midfield player lost his place to José Antonio Reyes, the winger who is on loan from Arsenal. Reyes scored from a free kick in the 2-0 victory before being replaced by Beckham midway through the second half.

Beckham, who finished the night on a high by rolling in the second goal after a 40-yard run through a static Sociedad defence, became a victim of Real’s clampdown on players’ commercial activities when the club refused him permission to fly to Barcelona because it comes only 48 hours before Real play Real Betis in Seville. Mijatovic asked adidas to change the venue from Barcelona to Madrid and when it declined, he told Beckham he could not go.

Newcastle United may initiate legal action against the FA over the knee ligament injury suffered by Michael Owen at the World Cup finals, which could sideline him for the season. As the England striker continues his recuperation, his club are seeking about £20 million.

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