Red card for Beckham as Real win 3-0

David Beckham was sent off for the first time since moving to Spain when he was shown a second yellow card two minutes from the end of Real Madrid's 3-0 home victory over Valencia in the first leg of their Spanish Cup quarter-final last night.

Beckham, who was shown his first yellow card for dissent in the 23rd minute, was then dismissed for a foul on Pablo Aimar. "I didn't think [the second card] was deserved because I was running back and I just clipped the back of his ankle," he said. "I definitely wouldn't have been sent off for that in England but I've got no qualms with the referee."