Victoria Beckham admits she couldn’t bear the idea of son Romeo, 22, going through what David did after World Cup 1998 exit when he was the same age

Victoria Beckham has revealed she couldn’t bear the thought of her son Romeo being publicly pilloried in the way David was after England’s World Cup 1998 exit.

Romeo, 22, followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a football career, first playing for Fort Lauderdale FC and later Brentford B, although he has since shifted his focus to modelling.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, fashion designer Victoria, 50, recalled how David, 48, was blamed for England’s World Cup exit.  

The football star was sent off against Argentina after kicking the back of Diego Simeone ‘s leg, lashing out at the Argentina captain after he had shoved him to the ground.   

Thinking back on the criticism her husband received, Victoria said: ‘I mean, when it happened, David was the same age that Romeo is now,

Romeo, 22, followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a football career, first playing for Fort Lauderdale FC and later Brentford B, although he has since shifted his focus to modelling

David was sent off against Argentina after kicking the back of Diego Simeone ‘s leg, lashing out at the Argentina captain after he had shoved him to the ground

‘That’s a lot for a 22-year-old. When you’re in it, there’s that sink-or-swim feeling, and you just get on with it. And we had each other, and the rest is history. 

‘But the thought of my Romeo having to go through it… I don’t know how he would handle that. I don’t know how anyone would handle that. But we didn’t have a choice.’ 

In his Netflix documentary Beckham, David admitted he didn’t sleep or eat after the public criticism that came after the World Cup.

He said: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it just because I can’t. I wasn’t eating. I wasn’t sleeping. It took a toll on me that I never even knew myself.’

After England’s round of 16 stage defeat, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger then had to watch on as England went on to lose the match on penalties.

The footballer was constantly booed and jeered by fans of opposition clubs for the majority of the following 1998-99 season, with a burning effigy of him and death threats among the worst of the backlash to his red card.  

Last year, Victoria turned 50 and said she now doesn’t care for being in the public eye as much.

She told the magazine: ‘You have to go through those times to make you, ultimately, who you are.

In his Netflix documentary Beckham, David admitted he didn’t sleep or eat after the public criticism that came after the World Cup

David and Victoria married in 1999 and share children Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 13 [pictured at the premiere for David’s documentary last year]

The December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale now

‘We’ve kind of figured out how to be quite discreet, which is just how we want to conduct our lives right now.

‘I suppose it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street – and you would dress knowing you were going to get that. I don’t want that any more.

‘I’ve been doing this too long. I suppose I did when I was growing up but, nowadays, there’s just too much going on; too busy; too many kids to worry about.

‘I woke up at 50, and I gave a s**t less.’

The December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale now.