London 2012 Olympics

IOC president defends David Beckham snub

IOC president Jacques Rogge defends Stuart Pearce over his decision to omit David Beckham from his Team GB squad for the Olympics.

By Mark Langshaw, Reporter

Published: July 4 2012 | 23:50

Last updated: July 4 2012 | 23:56

IOC president Jacques Rogge has defended Stuart Pearce over his decision to omit David Beckham from his Team GB squad for the Olympics.

The Los Angeles Galaxy star was widely tipped for inclusion after playing an integral role in London's bid to host the tournament, but failed to make the grade.

Pearce claimed that the former England international was left out for footballing reasons, expressing concerns over his fitness, a call that has now received Rogge's backing.

"The head coach is the head coach," he told CNN. "If the head coach decides not to field the player, that's the end of it.

"This is not an issue for sentiment; it's not an issue for nostalgia; it's about being the best athlete in the world in your own place, in your own sport.

"He's (Beckham) done a great job in bidding for the Games; he's a great personality; he's a very likeable person - but it's the law of sport."

Beckham is still expected to be involved in the Olympics in some capacity, with reports suggesting he is in line for a coaching role.

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Eastern Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Inter Miami Inter Miami	34	22	8	4	79	49	30	74
2	Columbus Crew	34	19	9	6	72	40	32	66
3	FC Cincinnati Cincinnati	34	18	5	11	58	48	10	59
4	Orlando City	34	15	7	12	59	50	9	52
5	Charlotte FC Charlotte FC	34	14	9	11	46	37	9	51
6	New York City FC NY City	34	14	8	12	54	49	5	50
7	New York Red Bulls NY Red Bulls	34	11	14	9	55	50	5	47
8	CF Montreal Montreal	34	11	10	13	48	64	-16	43
9	Atlanta United Atlanta	34	10	10	14	46	49	-3	40
10	DC United	34	10	10	14	52	70	-18	40
11	Philadelphia Union Philadelphia	34	9	10	15	62	55	7	37
12	Toronto	34	11	4	19	40	61	-21	37
13	Nashville SC Nashville	34	9	9	16	38	54	-16	36
14	New England Revolution New England	34	9	4	21	37	74	-37	31
15	Chicago Fire	34	7	9	18	40	62	-22	30

Western Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Los Angeles FC Los Angeles	34	19	7	8	63	43	20	64
2	Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy	34	19	7	8	69	50	19	64
3	Real Salt Lake Salt Lake	34	16	11	7	65	48	17	59
4	Seattle Sounders Seattle	34	16	9	9	51	35	16	57
5	Houston Dynamo Houston	34	15	9	10	47	39	8	54
6	Minnesota United Minnesota Utd	34	15	7	12	58	49	9	52
7	Colorado Rapids Colorado	34	15	5	14	61	60	1	50
8	Portland Timbers Portland	34	12	11	11	65	56	9	47
9	Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver	34	13	8	13	52	49	3	47
10	Austin FC Austin	34	11	9	14	39	48	-9	42
11	Dallas	34	11	8	15	54	56	-2	41
12	St Louis City	34	8	13	13	50	63	-13	37
13	Sporting Kansas City Kansas	34	8	7	19	51	66	-15	31
14	San Jose Earthquakes Earthquakes	34	6	3	25	41	78	-37	21