BBC News | SPORT | Beckham fizzes in TV ad

BBC News Online: Sport

Wednesday, 15 March, 2000, 02:03 GMT

Beckham fizzes in TV ad

David Beckham has followed in his wife's footsteps - by being signed up by drinks giant Pepsi.

Beckham and his fellow Manchester United players Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will play themselves in a television commercial which is due to be screened for the first time on Wednesday.

The Spice Girls, including Beckham's wife Victoria, have previously been linked with Pepsi in a huge sponsorship contract.

The television ad starring the footballers shows them stealing bottles of Pepsi from a referee who is buying them from a vending machine.

Their antics leave the referee without a coin to toss at the start of the match. David and Victoria Beckham

The advert shows the players substituting a game of "scissors, stones, paper" to prevent the kick-off being delayed.

The Man U trio are not the first footballers to be featured stealing in television adverts.

Gary Lineker made light of his nice-guy image to appear in a series of Walkers crisps adverts, stealing packets from children and from other sports personalities.

Other top-name backers signed by Pepsi include the singer Robbie Williams, who signed a Ł2m deal to feature in world-wide promotions for the firm.

Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Tina Turner have also been paid to promote Pepsi.

Pepsi battles fiercely with Coca-Cola to increase its share of the soft drinks market.

Analysts have recently said that Pepsi has been gaining ground on Coca-Cola, which has announced job losses and falling profits.

Related to this story:
Coca-Cola cuts 6,000 jobs (26 Jan 00 | Business)
Sponsorship can add real spice (24 Feb 00 | Business)
Backstreet Boys sign burger deal (21 Jan 00 | Entertainment)
Pepsi puts fizz back into Spice (26 Nov 97 | World)

Internet links: Manchester United official site | Coca-Cola | Pepsi |
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