BBC News Online: Entertainment

Beckham's tattoo misspelt

The tattoo on his left forearm is incorrect, spelling Victoria with an added "h" as Vihctoria.

The Manchester United player reportedly decided to have his wife's name in Hindi script because he felt it would be less "tacky" than having it in English.

Pademesh Gupta, editor of Hindi-language magazine Purvai said it was a "silly mistake".

He told BBC News Online: "The name Victoria is well known in India because of Queen Victoria. It is in a Hindi dictionary."

He added: "Whoever did the tattoo was probably English and didn't know Hindi."

The footballer already has two tattoos - one of his son's name Brooklyn in gothic script on his lower back and an avenging angel on his neck and shoulders.

Mr Gupta said anyone who could read Hindi would spot the mistake instantly.

More than 180 million people in India regard Hindi as their mother tongue and a further 300 million learn it as a second language.

But Mr Gupta did say he was pleased to see the language being used as a tattoo.

"It is a beautiful script and it is unfortunate that there is a mistake.

"But it does look nice and it's good to see it being used by an English footballer," he said.