Major League Soccer

Beckham Taunts LA Riot Squad

It was not a welcome return to Los Angeles for Goldenballs as he was involved in an altercation with a fan group.

Jul 20, 2009 2:01:59 AM

David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy v. Chelsea, July 21, 2007 (ISI)

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David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy v. Chelsea, July 21, 2007 (ISI)

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CARSON, Calif. -- David Beckham's return to California was nowhere near as triumphant as his initial arrival. The England international was persistently booed by the LA Riot Squad, a fangroup that has been critical of his extended loan with AC Milan, and started an altercation with it at the close of the half in a friendly between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Milan.

The testy relationship started when the teams came out for pregame warmups. Beckham was jeered by the corner that hosts the Riot Squad, though he was cheered by most of the rest of the stadium. The mixed reaction was juxtaposed by Landon Donovan's warm reception as he entered the pitch minutes later.

The Riot Squad is disgruntled with Beckham because the Galaxy's most high-profile player jetted off for Milan and paid his own money to extend a loan that saw him miss half the Major League Soccer season with LA. Now back stateside, he has reiterated that he is "committed" to the Galaxy, despite admitting that he plans on enacting another such lengthy loan in 2010.

The vocal fangroup displayed posters ridiculing Beckham. They read, "Go Home Fraud," "Repent 23," "Is evil something you are . . . or something you do?" and "Here before, here after, here despite 23."

It seems that the 34-year-old took offense to the last of the signs, pointing up at it as Ronaldinho took a corner to end the half. Then, once the halftime whistle blew, he confronted the Riot Squad. Members confirmed to Goal.com that he pointed up at the fangroup and said, "Come down here and be a man."

At that point, one fan did just that. He jumped over the wall and onto pitch level where he was apprehended by security officers. Beckham looked prepared to leap over advertising billboards to meet him, but teammates held him back and convinced the midfielder to retreat to the locker room.

When asked who had jumped down to confront Galaxy's star, those sitting near him declined to offer a name. One Riot Squad member simply said, "A real Galaxy fan."

Beckham had the last word, though. By the second half he was no longer being booed every time he touched the ball. Then, after crossing the corner that Bryan Jordan headed home to equalize the match at 2-2- shortly after the hour mark, Beckham turned around to shrug at the Riot Squad, taunting them.

Goldenballs was substituted off in the 75th minute. The cheers outweighed the jeers as he hugged his replacement, Mike Magee.

Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com

For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page

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