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Eriksson stands by his captain

25/10/2005

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has said David Beckham will remain national team captain despite his much-publicised dismissal recently for a petulant outburst.

Beckham was given a second yellow card for sarcastically applauding the referee's decision to issue him a first card for dissent during Real Madrid's 2-1 home defeat to Valencia on Sunday.

The dismissal is reminiscent of Wayne Rooney's last month, which Beckham publicly responded to by urging the young Manchester United striker to control his temper on the pitch.

Some areas within the media have therefore slammed Beckham's apparent hypocrisy for committing an identical error and calls have even be made for him to relinquish his skipper role.

But Eriksson, speaking at a charity dinner in Manchester, said there was little chance of Beckham being replaced.

"I don't have any problem with Beckham as captain. He is going to be captain in Germany," Eriksson said.

"I have not spoken to him about the dismissal. I don't know what happened but you do get sent off in football.

"These things happen in football, they always happen. It will always be like that in football. In other countries it is the same."

Beckham's latest dismissal, the sixth of his career, came just weeks after his red card during England's World Cup qualifier with Poland.

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