Becks not 'political pawn' in Barca game

ONE of the key figures behind moves to bring David Beckham to Barcelona insists he and his colleagues have done everything by the book in their negotiations with Manchester United.

The Premiership champions conditionally accepted a bid for Beckham yesterday from Barca presidential candidate Joan Laporta and his backers.

The most crucial condition would appear to be Laporta winning Sunday's election, but Beckham's management company SFX insist the player is unhappy at being used as a "political pawn" and as a vote-winning device.