Will David Beckham Land Knighthood in 2018?

By: Akos

Posted: August 23, 2018

Updated: January 28, 2019

From the outside it looks like he has it all, but don’t be fooled: there’s always that one thing that’s missing. David Beckham’s impact is undeniable, but it takes more than impact to score that much desired ‘Sir’ title. From tax issues to Beckileaks, we’ll explore what blocked Beckham from receiving knighthood in the past and review his chances of securing it in 2018.

Update (28.01.2019)

No, Beckham did not get knighted in 2018. His snub is not that surprising, considering his history and the fact the long odds he was assigned by the bookies. As of now, you cannot bet on Beckham to be knighted in 2019.

David Beckham's Knighthood in 2018 — Beckham was blocked by a red flag from the HMRC in 2014

Let’s make one thing very clear: David Beckham wants a knighthood and he wants it really bad. In 2014 he got so close that he could almost taste the blade, just to remain rank-less.

Blocked by tax problems in 2014

In 2014, Beckham has almost secured the ‘Sir’ title, but he got blocked by the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Before receiving the title, the nominee has to pass some routine checks by HMRC. Apparently, there were some problems with Beckham’s finances, as the HMRC put up a “red flag” essentially hindering Beckham’s knighthood that year.

In 2017 Beckileaks happened

In 2017, Football Leaks – a website that reveals enclosed information about finances and contracts in the world of football – has released millions of personal mails belonging to Beckham, (allegedly). Inspired by the leaks, UK gambling news have painted the picture of a desperate, middle-aged man, sitting at home, manically refreshing his inbox, waiting for an email with the subject: Knighthood. Some sources stated, that he called the Honours Committee “unappreciative cunts” after finding out about the red flag problem. Furthermore, Beckham has dismissed mails from his PR team, saying:

“unless it’s a knighthood, fuck off.”

Reporters interpreted these alleged emails as proof that Beckham’s philanthropic work with UNICEF was all just a carefully planned PR campaign to secure knighthood. Beckham’s PR team has released the following statement:

“This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails, from a third-party server, and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture.”

Will Beckham be knighted in 2018?

Who can receive knighthood?

Knight Bachelor is the lowest title given to a person who gets knighted but is not part of an order of chivalry. This title is awarded to people for public service. The nominees are reviewed by the Honours Committee, which is part of the Government of the United Kingdom. Therefore, giving knighthood to someone is largely a political decision.

Most people agree that Beckham made a huge mistake in showing anger over missing out on the title in 2014. Still, there’s no denying that he did a lot of work with UNICEF who released the following statement after the accusations:

“David Beckham has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005, and as well as generously giving his time, energy and support to help raise awareness and funds for UNICEF’s work for children, David has given significant funds personally.”

If you think that 2018 will see Beckham landing that knighthood (11), make sure to place a bet at 1xBet Sportsbook!