Victoria Beckham admits she couldn’t bear the idea of son Romeo, 22, going through what David did after World Cup 1998 exit when he was the same age

Victoria Beckham has revealed she couldn’t bear the thought of her son Romeo being publicly pilloried in the way David was after England’s World Cup 1998 exit.

Romeo, 22, followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a football career, first playing for Fort Lauderdale FC and later Brentford B, although he has since shifted his focus to modelling.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, fashion designer Victoria, 50, recalled how David, 48, was blamed for England’s World Cup exit.

The football star was sent off against Argentina after kicking the back of Diego Simeone ‘s leg, lashing out at the Argentina captain after he had shoved him to the ground.

Thinking back on the criticism her husband received, Victoria said: ‘I mean, when it happened, David was the same age that Romeo is now.

‘That’s a lot for a 22-year-old. When you’re in it, there’s that sink-or-swim feeling, and you just get on with it. And we had each other, and the rest is history.

‘But the thought of my Romeo having to go through it… I don’t know how he would handle that. I don’t know how anyone would handle that. But we didn’t have a choice.’

In his Netflix documentary Beckham, David admitted he didn’t sleep or eat after the public criticism that came after the World Cup.

He said: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it just because I can’t. I wasn’t eating. I wasn’t sleeping. It took a toll on me that I never even knew myself.’

After England’s round of 16 stage defeat, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger then had to watch on as England went on to lose the match on penalties.

The footballer was constantly booed and jeered by fans of opposition clubs for the majority of the following 1998-99 season, with a burning effigy of him and death threats among the worst of the backlash to his red card.