Beckham agony at Olympic snub: Coe keen hand role to former England star

Posted Friday, June 29, 2012 by Dailymail

David Beckham's shock omission from the Team GB football squad has left him ‘devastated’ and was met with anger and astonishment throughout the British Olympic movement.

Beckham, who believes he has been treated with ‘a lack of respect’, was given the news he had not remotely expected by manager Stuart Pearce in a phone call on Wednesday evening, telling him he had not made the final 18.

But, amazingly, neither Lord Coe, chairman of the Olympic organising committee, LOCOG, nor the British Olympic Association, under whose banner the national team will compete in London, had been informed of the controversial fate of the world’s most iconic footballer.

Beckham agony at Olympic snub: Coe keen hand role to former England star
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Beckham agony at Olympic snub: Coe keen hand role to former England star
They had been under the impression that Pearce would not discard Beckham at the last moment, having named him in the 35-strong shortlist and travelled to America twice to see him play.

Instead, news leaked from Beckham’s disconsolate camp yesterday morning, leaving Olympic officials ‘frustrated and surprised’ at both the maverick decision and the manner in which the FA failed to communicate the sensitive news to them.

The FA understand the BOA’s frustrations but were concerned about Beckham hearing the news first. However, they then still had 16 hours to inform the Olympic organisations before word got out.

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