From ball games to Brexit ballot

David Beckham and Ian Botham may be retired, but their competitive spirit has not deserted them as they battle it out on opposite sides of Britain's heated EU referendum debate, reports AFP.

 

Beckham, once the darling of football terraces worldwide, has declared himself for the "Remain" camp, while ageing cricket legend Botham has come out for "Leave".

 

Beckham, who also played in France, Spain and Italy during his stellar career, said the remarkable Manchester United team built by manager Sir Alex Ferguson was more successful because of the eclectic mix of Europeans who contributed to its triumphs.

 

"We were a better and more successful team because of a Danish goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, the leadership of an Irishman Roy Keane and the skill of a Frenchman in Eric Cantona," said the 41-year-old on Tuesday in a post on Instagram.

 

Botham, never one for subtlety either as a player or subsequently as a pundit, said he had tired of the number of foreigners entering Britain.

 

"The people coming into our country, they don't seem to have to come over with a job, any qualifications, just turn up," the 60-year-old nicknamed 'Beefy' said at a Vote Leave event with Boris Johnson in May.

 

"I think it will get cluttered. I would actually start thinking, 'hang on a minute, we've got enough people in this country'," said the former all-rounder, whose exploits in winning the Ashes in 1981 remain one of England's greatest sporting achievements.

 

Beckham's former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand followed him on Tuesday, declaring for Remain.

 

Ferdinand, capped 81 times, said it would be the first time he has ever voted-- aged 37.

 

"I think all the focus on immigration has been a real shame," wrote Ferdinand in London's Evening Standard newspaper.

 

"I don't want Britain to become an angry and mean-spirited country. I think there's a danger that, if Leave wins, it'll be an endorsement of the idea that it's OK to blame all our problems on foreigners.

 

"The England football team used to do that. And it didn't help us play any better.

 

"Europeans make a really important contribution to our country, and most of our problems are actually home-grown," Ferdinand said.