Beckham slams British

Showbiz

09:30 27 July 2005

David Beckham has slammed the British public for "building up" their sports stars only to knock them down.

The football ace, who is married to former Spice Girl Victoria, claims his life has been made a misery by false allegations of adultery and attacks on his sporting ability.

However, David admits he was not surprised by the personal attacks because he claims the British love to try and rubbish their idols when they become too successful.

He said: "They put you up there and then they try and knock you down.

"Then, when you're down, if you get out of it, they like that. But once you're out of it, they try and knock you down again."

However, David has praised Americans for respecting their sporting heroes.

He added in an interview with America's Details magazine: "They put them up on a pedestal but they don't try and knock them down. That's a great thing - to be respected by the whole country. It's so patriotic."

In 1998, David was the victim of a hate campaign after he was sent off during an England World Cup match, while last year he was accused of having an affair with Rebecca Loos.

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