David Beckham Sued For Assualt By A Paparazzo
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]
Tags: Brooklyn Joseph Beckham, David Beckham, Emicles Da Mata, Victoria Beckham
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January 27th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Hmmm…I wonder if they will stay in LA?! Milano managed to beat my team, Bologna, this weekend–and, Becks scored a goal. He is playing like “his ol’ self” here in Europe. I think that the soccer would be better for him in Italy. They go CRAZY for their “calcio” (Italian word for Soccer!)
January 27th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
MLS is different to how it is in Europe where all the top players from across the globe play. This is partly due to logistics, a lack of quality, a relatively short season and money (of course!). One player alone at 33 years of age can not revolutionise the game in what is considered a much lower league.
He is proud to be English and playing for his country means a lot. It is not working out for him the USA on the pitch despite all the efforts of his wife. He needs to keep up his fitness and he can’t do that in the if the MLS season is over. That’s why he’s at AC Milan and maybe he wants to taste the glory of winning trophies.
It’s common practise for clubs to unsettle players contracted to other clubs. Speculation is always rife and the Chairman of Milan is likely to envoke mind games.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Agree with Kathleen, the standard for football is far higher in europe and playing in the states has had becks off his game – as is evident by his game a few short weeks into his loan to Milan. Also, while us americans may considering the talk coming from the Milan camp ‘unprofessional’ its actually VERY common for clubs and club managers to deal with each other this way in europe – just look at the whole Kaka/Man City thing. Its just how it works and I think its more than a little unfair to hold the european football league etc to our standards, especially as our actual *playing* standards as so much lower.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
also, the money would probably be a non issue – these european clubs, especially the champions league ones rake it in with licensing merchandise and whatnot. AC milan, has its own tv channel for example. loads of euoro players make loads (and i mean LOADS) more than becks does playing in LA..esp as much of his salary is tied to merchandise and ticket sales if AC were to buy him they wouldnt be covering THAT!
January 27th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Wasn’t the whole point of the LA move to promote and further soccer in the states? … and get Victoria some famous LA friends.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Once upon a time, there was a boy who wanted to play soccer like Pele… At the tender age of 17, playing for Manchester United, he showed moves on the field that inspired awe & wonder – Those same moves led to a movie called, “Bend It Like Beckham”… He was called the “British Pele”, “Firebrand” etc.
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Then he signed with Real Madrid for 4 years… But he lost his way, somewhere, no longer a footballer but a celebrity. Once he joined the L. A. Galaxy (on loan now to Milan) in 2007, he has become a joke to many serious soccer fans around the world… For for the cameras & glory than the game.
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The U.K., Europe, Canada see Soccer as a game – Americans, women mostly, see the game like American Football… Hunky guys feeling each other up whenever they score.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:40 am
I would rather Becks to stay at Milan. Career wise, It’s wayyyy better for Becks to stay at Milan.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:53 am
Beck’s contract with LA apparently has a clause in it that allows him to leave for free after 3 years (which would mean he could go to Milan this October). LA would probably want to at least make some money off Becks so would probably prefer to sell him for any amount possible rather than keep him & then have him leave for free. I’ve read he might be sold in this January’s transfer window (so in the next week) for about £4.5million. Really hope it happens, Becks would finally get back to European football permanently!
January 28th, 2009 at 9:13 am
AC Milan is my favorite team so I am obviously hoping Becks stays with them. When he left Europe to go to the US, I thought, that’s it, career over. Now he has this (very possible) second chance… for his career, for his legacy as a footballer, he has to stay in Europe.
Not to mention Italian soccer players are way hotter than the US ones ;)
January 28th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Like other commenters have said, this is nothing compared to other transfer sagas. Beckham should switch and and return to play in a real league- his heart is in European football and his most important priority is playing for England, and continuing to play for L.A. will not at all keep him in shape to play for his country.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:14 am
trent, you really should learn more about the way european football works before you say ‘unprofessional’.
frankly, i think that becks is way better off in italy than he in the usa, only because he would be able to play with players who can challenge him.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:29 am
@del — my comment had nothing to do with the way European Football works, it has to do with individuals talking publicly about matters dealing with contracts before anything has been decided or determined, especially in matters of negotiations. i absolutely contend that it is very unprofessional to discuss matters of a contractual nature in the press before anything has been decided on.
January 29th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
uhm…actually ac milan can pull off any amount of money they want…club’s president is silvio berlusconi…the italian prime minister? yep, him.
i think that if galliani is making such statements it’s because maaaaybe becks himself expressed his wish of staying in ac milan!! galliani obviously knows how becks feels and he’s just advancing some negotiating options in order to keep him here (in italy). it would be so much better if he stayed here in italy. he’s taken seriously here at least! he’s not know as beckham, victoria’s hubby and underwear commercial model as in america but he’s firstly known as beckham, the amazing soccer player he is! besides soccer games here in italy are waaay more exciting and challenging for him…it’s the main sport here, everyone goes wild at every soccer game…i guess becks feels more accepted here, in a team full of extraordinary players, rather than in a not-so-known american team in a country where the main sport is american football…