David Beckham - AP
BRISBANE, Australia (AP)
David Beckham's proposed loan deal with AC Milan has caused the postponement of a December match between his United States club LA Galaxy and Australian team Queensland Roar.
An LA Galaxy spokesman said that the Major League Soccer (MLS) club could not guarantee ex-England football captain Beckham would play in the December 11 match at a 52,500-seat stadium in Brisbane, the Australian Associated Press reported.
Disappointment
"We were not in a position to absolutely guarantee David Beckham's availability," Galaxy's business operations president Tom Payne was quoted as saying. "To avoid disappointment for the many fans that were expected to travel to Brisbane from all parts of Australia, it was decided to postpone this game before tickets went on sale to the general public."
Tickets were due to go on sale today.
Galaxy confirmed a December 6 match against an Oceania All-Star team in Auckland, New Zealand would go ahead and organisers would try to reschedule the match against A-League club Queensland Roar.
Trademark curling free kick
Beckham scored with a trademark curling free kick in the Galaxy's 5-3 loss to Sydney FC at a packed 80,000-seat Olympic stadium in Australia's biggest city last November.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder is negotiating a loan move to Milan from January 2009 to maintain match fitness in the MLS off season and boost his chances of selection in the national squad. Beckham had said he intends to return to Galaxy for the start of the next MLS season.