Victoria Beckham reveals the hidden truth behind England’s World Cup 1998 exit in Netflix documentary, discusses her lingering desire for vengeance against her husband’s bullies

Victoria Beckham says she ‘still wants to kill people’ who bullied David after he was blamed for England’s World Cup 1998 exit in their new Netflix documentary.

The fashion designer, 49, reflected on the ‘absolute hate’ that the former footballer 48, received following the red card and revealed the secret reason why she thought it happened. 

David was sent off in England’s quarter-final clash with Argentina after kicking out at Diego Simeone following a tackle. The Three Lions went on to exit the tournament after a penalty shootout defeat.

Speaking on the programme, which will be released on October 4, Victoria said how the public’s reaction left the then 23-year-old footballer clinically depressed. 

In quotes obtained by The Sun, she recalled: ‘I mean, the absolute hate, the public bullying, to another level.’

‘He was depressed, absolutely clinically depressed. I still want to kill these people.’

Adding of why she thought that David might have been ‘distracted’ Victoria revealed she told her husband she was pregnant with their first child, Brooklyn, just before the game. 

She explained: ‘I was in Brooklyn. I told David the night before the game. 

‘He was so, so happy, we both were and there was never any doubt in my mind that I should tell him. I mean, it was what we wanted and he could not have been happier.’

Director Fisher Stevens questions off camera if she believed it was a good idea to tell him the news before the ‘biggest game of his life.’

‘I don’t really know,’ she responded. 

He now has three children with the former Spice Girl – Brooklyn, 24, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 18, and Harper, 12. 

Elsewhere, David reflected on ‘the hardest time of his professional and personal life’, saying: ‘What I went through was so extreme. The whole country hated me. Hated me.’

‘It changed my life. I felt very vulnerable and alone. Wherever I went I got abuse every single day.

‘People look at you in a certain way, spit at you, abuse you, come up to your face and say some of the things that they said. That was difficult.’

Sensational clips from the programme shows his wife Victoria, legendry Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, his parents and his former club and England team-mates Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand.

The documentary goes into unprecedented depths as it covers the stresses and pressures that dogged Beckham and his family through his professional career.

Speaking about the World Cup exit in 1998, he says: ‘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.’

The documentary promises the show the former England international’s rise from ‘humble working-class beginnings’ up to his glamorous days at Manchester United, Real Madrid and beyond. 

Further clips show heartwarming home video of their children and wedding day, alongside resurfaced interviews with the star in his prime. 

From the trailer alone, it seems a large portion will be focused on his relationships both off and on the pitch.

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. 

Beckham also touches on the famous dressing room incident between himself and Sir Alex Ferguson, where the United coach supposedly kicked a boot at the England star. 

He appears to admit that he ‘went at’ his manager after the incident as he discusses the furore with an interviewer.

Netflix promises that ‘the series takes you on that rollercoaster and builds a surprising, personal and definitive story of one of the most recognisable and scrutinised athletes of all time.’ 

This includes Beckham’s relationship with his wife Victoria – as they trace their family life through his career.

Speaking about the start of their relationship, she revealed that they were advised at first to keep it ‘under wraps’ – and they even met in car parks to avoid public scrutiny.

She says: ‘My manager kept saying: “Try and keep it under wraps.” So we would meet in car parks – and that’s not as seedy as it sounds!’