Ruh roh! As I mentioned in a newslink earlier today, it appears that there is trubs ahead for soccer star David Beckham (who is currently wowing soccer fans in Italy these days) … a paparazzo named Emicles Da Mata has filed a lawsuit against Becks and his bodyguard in LA Superior Court for allegedly assaulting him this past December. Da Mata immediately took photos of his injuries after the incident (which, to me, only shows that he got dirty … not that he got his ass beat) as proof of the alleged attack. Vicki B., who is home in SoCal with her children, refused to make a statement on the suit when asked for comment:
No paparazzi-avoiding deed goes unpunished, it seems. David Beckham has been sued by a disgruntled photographer who was roughed up last month by one of the soccer star’s bodyguards after Beckham confronted the shutterbug in an attempt to get him off his famous back. Emicles Da Mata claims he suffered serious injury at the hands of Beckham’s right-hand man, stating in court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court that on Dec. 7 the bodyguard beat him repeatedly, grabbed his camera and threw it in a trash can. An eyewitness told E! News at the time that Da Mata had been trailing Beckham and wife Victoria when the Brit got out of his car and approached the paparazzo’s vehicle, enticing him to come out. Per our source,when Da Mata refused to budge, Beckham’s muscle went around to the passenger side and started throwing punches. “They just can’t do this,” Da Mata said. “They put me on the floor, they got my camera and they threw it in the trash can. They can’t do this to us.” A police report was taken at the scene, but no criminal charges were ever filed in the incident. Da Mata is claiming assault, battery and emotional distress, and is asking for unspecified damages, per TMZ.com, which first reported the suit. Beckham’s bodyguard has also been named as a defendant.
It’s tough (and dirty) work being a paparazzo. Without going into the right and wrongness of the work of paparazzi here in SoCal, I’m not sure it’s very legal for somone to reach into a vehicle and beat on someone … if, in fact, that is what happened. On the other hand, it could be percieved that the pap is lookin’ to make a quick buck (don’t be surprised if a monetary settlement is reached). You can’t really blame VB for staying mum on the subject … she might not even be aware of any lawsuit. Personally, I’m more disturbed by the rumors that David Beckham is considering a permanent move to Italy to play for AC Milan on a more permanent basis:
David Beckham’s future in Major League Soccer was plunged even deeper into doubt today when AC Milan said it was prepared to sign the Galaxy midfielder. Adriano Galliani, the Italian club’s general manager, said that if Beckham could negotiate his way out of his five-year contract with MLS, he would be welcomed “with open arms” by the seven-time European champion. Galliani told the Associated Press that Milan officials would meet with Beckham’s representatives in the next few days. It was clear, however, that the onus on getting out from under his contract would be left with Beckham and his advisors. “We have to see what happens,” Galliani told Sky Sports Italia. “If he manages to free himself from his contract with [the] Galaxy, then we will be waiting for him with open arms. “The player wants to stay with us, but he knows he has to return” to Los Angeles in March under terms of the Galaxy’s loan agreement with Milan. We will buy him if he frees himself. Beckham will be happy as he has returned to play in a big club. The player and his representatives know that Milan are willing to buy him on a permanent basis.” Neither MLS, which negotiates all player contracts, nor AEG, which owns the Galaxy, had any immediate statement on Tuesday’s developments. On Monday, Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena had criticized Milan officials, and indirectly Beckham, for comments being made in Italy. “I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for club officials at the biggest clubs in the world to be making comments without having contact with us,” Arena said, referring also to suggestions by Bayern Munich that it would like to keep on-loan Galaxy forward Landon Donovan in Germany. “We can’t be responsible tor comments by managers, club presidents, lawyers [and] players. We did things properly, ethically, and we’re going to hold up the loan agreement,” Arena said. This would not be the first time the Galaxy has been left out of the loop, however. Beckham’s loan to AC Milan caught the Galaxy unaware and was presented to MLS virtually as a fait accompli in November by Beckham’s representatives. The Galaxy could hold Beckham to his contract, which has three years remaining. In that case, Milan would back off, Galliani said. “If the Galaxy were to decide not to release him, then they won’t release him,” Galliani told Sky TV today. “In America, they have the same rules as European football. The player has a contract. But having said that, we’ll have to wait and see.” Simon Oliveira, Beckham’s London-based spokesman, told Reuters last week that there had been no discussions with Milan about retaining the player. “David is enjoying his time in Milan, but he is contracted to return on March 9th to L.A. It still stands and absolutely no conversations have taken place regarding changing that,” Oliveira said.
I would be CRUSHED beyond words if Becks did leave LA for Milan. I can’t imagine that AC Milan could afford to to buy out his very expensive contract. I’m quite surprised that the folks over in Italy are so unprofessionally talking about these sorts of matters publicly before any decisions have been made. This would be the second time that big mouths within the AC Milan management have blabbed to the press before anything has been decided. I refuse to believe they’ll be able to pony up the money to steal Becks away. The LA Galaxy better hold on to their golden boy. The Galaxy and MLS Soccer as a whole really can’t afford to lose a star like David Beckham.
[Photo credit: X17]
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