[Rooftopcowboy]

Beckham's just announced he has signed for Paris St Germain and will play for free and donate his salary to a kids charity.

the guy has had a lot of stick over the years...but to me this is a very selfless act, he doesn't need the fame or the attention of putting his body through another 6 months of football, and the risk of being labelled 'past-it' if he doesn't play well.

shows he's a genuine guy and a class act to me.

[Caxton]

I do not particularly like Beckham, I do not like football and all the false pretence and bull manure associated with it but I must give credit to Beckham for this kind act. I have totally changed my mind about him.

Perhaps a few more of the multi-millionaire footballers could consider doing something similar, or at least make a large donation from the obscene wealth they have.

[Saltydog1955]

Nice gesture, but better if it had gone 50/50 to a kids charity in France and one in the UK rather that 100% to France seeing as he's a British citizen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...-saint-germain

[DiamondDoll]

A praiseworthy gesture indeed.

[Rooftopcowboy]

Originally Posted by Saltydog1955

Nice gesture, but better if it had gone 50/50 to a kids charity in France and one in the UK rather that 100% to France seeing as he's a British citizen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...-saint-germain

The story (written earlier today) highlights just how much money he is sacrificing. £150k a week was his expected wage, so for 6 months he was looking at approx £3.6M before tax.

[DiamondDoll]

Originally Posted by Saltydog1955

Nice gesture, but better if it had gone 50/50 to a kids charity in France and one in the UK rather that 100% to France seeing as he's a British citizen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...-saint-germain

Lol...........there's always one.

[Saltydog1955]

Originally Posted by DiamondDoll

Lol...........there's always one.

Charming.

[sjp07]

Originally Posted by Saltydog1955

Nice gesture, but better if it had gone 50/50 to a kids charity in France and one in the UK rather that 100% to France seeing as he's a British citizen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...-saint-germain

Gosh, are there really people that have to find something bad in everything? Nothing a celebrity does for charity is ever good enough it seems. How about you donate your salary to a charity in the UK if it is so important to you.

[The Prumeister]

Fair play to him; hope this sets a precedent. Would like to see the likes of Rooney and Ashley Cole following suit - but I won't hold my breath.

[Zone_Out]

i always find footballer`s salary`s ridiculous much Credit to the guy always liked Beckham although i have zero interest in the game he always comes across a nice guy
hopefully more footballer`s might follow

[Saltydog1955]

Originally Posted by sjp07

Gosh, are there really people that have to find something bad in everything? Nothing a celebrity does for charity is ever good enough it seems. How about you donate your salary to a charity in the UK if it is so important to you.

Why don't you stop criticising others for having a different opinion? I've said it's a nice gesture, and it is.

I'm not in the millionaire bracket and I'd daresay neither are you, and how do you know I don't donate to charity?

[lexi22]

Lovely gesture, well done to him.

It is an obscene amount of money to be earning on a weekly basis so it would be nice if other similarly-salaried footballers followed suit, even if just for a couple of months at a time, or even one month, with it going to a charity or cause of their choice. It could make such a difference.

Although I'm sure a lot of them do donate anyway... but it's a great gesture by Beckham that might get that particular ball rolling...

[Rare Groove]

it would have been more impressive if his PR team did not leak it out so he could be made SIR and no he was not going to get £150k a week! He never got paid that high a salary in his life.

[missfrankiecat]

Originally Posted by Rooftopcowboy

Beckham's just announced he has signed for Paris St Germain and will play for free and donate his salary to a kids charity.

the guy has had a lot of stick over the years...but to me this is a very selfless act, he doesn't need the fame or the attention of putting his body through another 6 months of football, and the risk of being labelled 'past-it' if he doesn't play well.

shows he's a genuine guy and a class act to me.

And, of course, gives him a £3.6m tax credit against sponsorship deals which might otherwise attract France's now penally high upper tax band, no? People are very naive!

[80sfan]

Originally Posted by Saltydog1955

Nice gesture, but better if it had gone 50/50 to a kids charity in France and one in the UK rather that 100% to France seeing as he's a British citizen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...-saint-germain

Oh good old Becks... he's British through and through when there's fuel for Brand Beckham and the publicity machine (think Olympics), but it's funny that he won't live here and I doubt pay tax here.

I wonder what ultimately is in this for him? You get nothing for nothing usually with that pair

[lexi22]

Originally Posted by missfrankiecat

And, of course, gives him a £3.6m tax credit against sponsorship deals which might otherwise attract France's now penally high upper tax band, no? People are very naive!

Really, does it matter if a charity still benefits?

[Saltydog1955]

Originally Posted by 80sfan

Oh good old Becks... he's British through and through when there's fuel for Brand Beckham and the publicity machine (think Olympics), but it's funny that he won't live here and I doubt pay tax here.

I wonder what ultimately is in this for him? You get nothing for nothing usually with that pair

Good points.

Also as was said ^ could it be that he thinks it might be a way to a knighthood?

[Mark F]

Originally Posted by Caxton

Perhaps a few more of the multi-millionaire footballers could consider doing something similar, or at least make a large donation from the obscene wealth they have.

I think lots do..just you don't hear about it as the media usually don't bother with the positives things they do.

Craig Bellamy and the ex Chelsea striker Drogba for example.

Becks is lucky in someways to have positive press because he is a good guy all around with a clean image.

Beckham will be dammed whatever he does...

Its a great gesture regardless of how much he has earnt.

It came out because the question was asked at the press conference so he was honest..which is refreshing.

[missfrankiecat]

Originally Posted by lexi22

Really, does it matter if a charity still benefits?

I think I'd rather that high earners paid their fair share of tax so that those in need can be properly supported by the state rather than 'charity'!

[80sfan]

Originally Posted by Mark F

I think lots do..just you don't hear about it as the media usually don't bother with the positives things they do.

Indeed, the likes of Colleen Rooney and Alex Gerrard are so concerned by the state of the UK economy, they devote themselves to spending a lot of their husbands' money on expensive dresses and shoes, and then writing about their lives in magazine columns. Warms your heart, doesn't it?

[Mark F]

Well I did mean the players but ofcourse rich people will spend money on expensive stuff.

Who wouldn't...

Agreed its a bit annoying when they go so public about it but then the papers love it and people read the stories...

Would say Beckham is one of the more likeable football personalities!

Unike the other englisman in French football!!

[sjp07]

Originally Posted by Saltydog1955

Why don't you stop criticising others for having a different opinion? I've said it's a nice gesture, and it is.

I'm not in the millionaire bracket and I'd daresay neither are you, and how do you know I don't donate to charity?

I didn't criticize you. You did, however, criticize him for doing something good because you don't think that's how he should do it.

You don't have to be in a millionaire tax bracket. He is donating his salary which is more than you are doing, even if you are doing something which I never said you weren't.

[conchie]

Originally Posted by Saltydog1955

Good points.

Also as was said ^ could it be that he thinks it might be a way to a knighthood?

First of all its buttons to him......so its no big loss.....I bet he gets paid that for standing in his jocks modeling !

I definitely think the Beckhams are aiming to elevate to more titled status as suggested. They were already at the Royal Wedding, Becks and Will seem to very chummy in their roles promoting the olympics. Can Sir David and Lady Victoria be far off !!

I am sure he will have been tutored very well in what charitable acts get him that step closer to the goal.

[soullover]

Well he can afford it can't he? Got more money than he can ever spend and i agree with previous post, I doubt it's such a selfless gesture as it first appears
Fingers crossed it's not The Cup Trust

[80sfan]

Originally Posted by sjp07

You don't have to be in a millionaire tax bracket. He is donating his salary which is more than you are doing, even if you are doing something which I never said you weren't.

Erm yeah, and exactly how many salaries does Beckham have?

I hardly think you can compare a man who endorses dozens of products and gets paid for each of them with people who work hard for an average salary. What is that money to Beckham anyway? Not much on the grand scheme of things I'd imagine. It's free publicity for him, which is what he wants.