Beckham red-faced over yellow, says he is sorry

• Minutes later, he clatters into Thatcher, picks up his yellow card and is substituted

Sunday, Oct 10

• British papers lambast Beckham for his cynical foul, saying it took shine off his goal

• Seeing the bad press, Beckham’s PR machine calls respected football writer Henry Winter of The Daily Telegraph and arranges phone interview

Tuesday, Oct 12

• Winter’s article is published, based on Beckham’s admission: ‘Patriotic captain did it for England’ is his spin

• English football hero Geoff Hurst leads calls for Beckham to be stripped of captaincy. ‘‘It’s not a question of what Bobby Moore would have made of this action of an England captain, what is important is what Sir Alf Ramsey would have said. He would have said: ‘Thanks, that’s it’.”

Wednesday, Oct 13

• FIFA chief Sepp Blatter says he’s asked FA to investigate. ‘‘Where are we going when football’s ambassadors do not show fair play?’’ Blatter is reported to have said.

• Beckham’s apology read out on TV. ‘‘I was asked a question and made an honest admission to counter the negative speculation. I now know that was wrong and apologise.’’