David Beckham fires 'role model' jibe at Tyson Fury

"In the sporting world, when you've been successful, it's a big thing, but it's more important to be a good role model," he told Huffington Post of the controversial boxer, whose shocking views on homosexuality and equality for women were so extreme that 130,000 people signed a petition asking for him to be thrown out of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday night.

"When you're at the top, when you're at the highest point in your sport, being a role model is even more important than anything else.

"Fury's done well in the ring, let's hope he continues to do well in and outside it."

Beckham also spoke of his own experience, going from national pariah when he was sent off at the 1998 World Cup to the man known as 'Goldenballs', whose free kick sent England to the 2002 tournament.

"I knew I had to get my head down and work hard. In 1998, things happened where I wish they hadn't but they did," he said.

"I could have gone on a different path, but thankfully I was brought up by parents who taught me how to work hard for a living, and I knew that's what I had to do on certain occasions."