Beckham calls for Euro 2000 calm

David Beckham (centre) with rowers Moore and Gilchrist

David Beckham has urged England fans to stay out of trouble during next month's Euro 2000 championships.

The Manchester United and England star said everyone wanted to avoid a repeat of the violence which marred Arsenal's Uefa Cup Final agaonst Galatasaray in Copenhagen this week.

Beckham - appeal to fans

Beckham, who was helping to launch a £1m cancer charity rowing challenge, said: "No-one wants to see any of that."

But the England star, who joined two British oarsmen planning to row across the Atlantic for Macmillan Cancer Relief, refused to be drawn any more on the question of football violence.

He did say, though, that he hoped team-mate Andy Cole would be picked for the England squad for Euro 2000.

Beckham, with wife Victoria, is a patron of the Challenge Yourself campaign, which aims to encourage people to commit to a personal challenge, to help raise money for a chosen cause from sponsors.

The footballer has pledged to convert every goal he scores in next month's tournament and next season into cash for cancer sufferers.

He met rowers Peter Moore, 26, originally from Torpoint, Cornwall, and Scott Gilchrist, 30, originally from Newcastle, at the Thames Rowing Club in Putney, London.

The pair, who now live in Hackney, east London, plan to take a 21-foot boat 3,367 miles across the Atlantic Ocean as their challenge.

Encouragement

Beckham said: "It's unbelievable what they are doing. They have explained it to me and as I have reached quite a high level in my work I know what it takes for them to do this."

He said Victoria, Posh Spice, would be encouraging him to score as many goals as possible.

"It's nice to do what we can for the charity as Victoria and I were very interested in the project.

"I will be getting sponsored for all my goals - but I'm not sure if my team-mates will be doing it as well!"

Mr Gilchrist said: "It's been very nice to meet David and we hope his challenge and ours both go well. Although our final destinations of Barbados and £1m seem a long way off, we are determined to succeed on both counts."