Queiroz explains what really happened when Ferguson kicked boot at Beckham

The infamous incident in which a furious Sir Alex Ferguson volleyed a football shoe into David Beckham’s face has been discussed by the former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz.

The flying boot episode occurred after United lost 2-0 against fierce rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round on February 15, 2003.

Ryan Giggs made one of the famous open goal misses of the past 20 years at 0-0, but nevertheless, it was Beckham who received the full extent of Ferguson’s fume.

The Scot provided the hairdryer treatment to Becks before kicking a discarded football boot his way. By misfortune, it whacked Beckham above the left eye and the midfielder needed stitches.

Queiroz, who was Fergie's assistant manager during this period, said that his former boss never set out to physically harm Beckham.

"It’s time to establish the truth behind that story," he said to FourFourTwo magazine's Players Lounge series.

"Someone once told me that if he had intended to hit Beckham with that boot, Sir Alex's left foot must be real quality!

"I was there in the dressing room that day and, let's put things right, it was not a good shot because the boot first hit a table and only after went in Beckham’s direction. Sir Alex, I’m sorry but your left foot was not as good as you think!"

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Ferguson said in his 2003 autobiography: "The next day the story was in the press. In public an Alice band highlighted the damage inflicted by the boot. It was in those days that I told the board David had to go.

"My message would have been familiar to board members who knew me. The minute a Manchester United player thought he was bigger than the manager, he had to go. I used to say, 'The moment the manager loses his authority, you don't have a club. The players will be running it, and then you're in trouble.'

The rest of the players in the dressing room had to restraint a fuming Beckham following the incident. The winger was sold to Real Madrid the following summer for £30million, with some of the money helping get Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon.

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