David Beckham has denied claims from campaigners that he is ‘choosing profit over principles’ after registering his name as a trademark in Russia.
Earlier this month an application, filed last summer on behalf of the former England skipper by DB Ventures, was reportedly approved.
It grants ‘Golden Balls’ trademark rights for his name to be used to sell dozens of products in the country under the Beckham brand – from curtains, yoga mats, pet blankets, bed linen to sleeping bags.
Campaigners from the group Women Fight for Ukraine lashed out at the father-of-four, who previously ‘handed over his Instagram to a Ukrainian doctor and donated to help Ukrainian children’, for the alleged move.
In a blistering Instagram post, they said the former footballer deserved a ‘red card’ whilst accusing Beckham of expanding his business to Russia and ‘choosing profit over principles’.
Beckham’s representatives have since vehemently denied claims he has any ‘proactive’ plans to grow his brand into the Eurasian state branding them ‘completely untrue’, adding they had ‘no basis at all in fact’.
They added that filings were ‘a routine’ and ‘standard’ business practice and act as a ‘protective measure’ to stop others from attempting to profit from the Beckham brand or name globally.
A representative told : ‘Trademark filings are a routine process to protect brands and intellectual property all over the world.
‘In this case, Authentic Brands/DB Ventures filed in Russia as a protective measure to ensure that other operators cannot use the brand or profit from the Beckham brand and name.
‘This is entirely standard practice and is done by brands and businesses routinely.
‘The filing caused inaccurate reporting that suggested that we have proactive plans to expand the brand into Russia – this is completely untrue and has no basis at all in fact.
‘The Ukranian group in question has responded to that inaccurate reporting – we have contacted them today to reassure them that we have no such plans.’
The company that owns DB Ventures also previously said the move to secure a trademark was a ‘routine’ part of protecting the Beckham brand overseas.
Beckham and his wife Victoria have been long-standing supporters of Ukraine after it was invaded by Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin’s force almost three years ago.
Just weeks after the full-scale assault was launched, the Beckhams mounted an emergency UNICEF aid appeal – pledging £1 million of their own fortune into the fund.
Speaking in a video posted on Instagram shortly after Russia’s opening bombardment, Beckham said: ‘Like you I have watched the situation in Ukraine unfold in horror and disbelief.
‘Mothers forced to flee with their children. Families torn apart. Children taken from their beds to become refugees overnight.
‘With my family safe around me, I felt the helplessness we all share when faced with scenes of despair.’
He continued: ‘Victoria and I have made a donation on behalf of our family to kickstart the appeal. We would be so grateful if you could join us in helping UNICEF support these children. Please give what you can today.’
Days later, Beckham handed over control of his Instagram account – followed at the time by 71.5 million people – to a Ukrainian doctor.
The UNICEF ambassador handed over his Instagram to Dr Iryna, who is the head of a perinatal centre in Kharkiv, to show his followers the grim reality Ukrainians are facing on a daily basis and encourage donations.
It followed shocking videos and images showing newborn babies and patients being treated in a basement while child anaesthesiologist, Iryna and other medical professionals were helping pregnant women safely give birth.
Speaking in a video on Instagram, the former football ace said: ‘Hi everyone, so I’m handing over my social media to Iryna, the Head of the Regional Perinatal Centre in Kharkiv, Ukraine where she is helping pregnant mothers give birth safely.
‘Thanks to your donations, the oxygen generators they have received are helping newborns survive in appalling conditions.’
More recently, in August 2023, Beckham was joined Rio Ferdinand and Alex Scott for a charity football match at Stamford Bridge, as part of a bid to raise more than £1million for Ukraine.
The action, dubbed the Game4Ukraine, was staged at Chelsea’s home ground just over a year after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club following Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
The special match was in aid of Volodymyr Zelensky’s UNITED24 campaign, which raised more than £250million in donations from over 110 countries.