What the David Beckham documentary tells us — and what it doesn’t — about controlling parents in sport

Controlling behaviour by parents is often portrayed as necessary for success as an athlete, but the evidence shows this idea is false

David Beckham of England is sent off by referee Kim Nielsen after lashing out at Diego Simeone of Argentina during the World Cup clash at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in St Etienne, France. England lost 4-3 on penalties.

In the Netflix documentary Beckham, the footballer is asked how he coped with the abuse of his entire country after the 1998 men’s football World Cup. 

David Beckham responds: "I was able to handle being abused by the fans … because of the way my dad had been to me."