Sevilla fury at Becks OK

The former England captain was booked for time-wasting at the end of Real's 4-1 victory, ruling him out of the title clash with Sevilla this week, though the Spanish federation saw fit to overturn the booking, allowing Beckham to start.

The ruling came just hours before Sevilla centre back Julien Escude was booked in his side's 2-0 win at Osasuna, ruling him out of the event's showpiece in Glasgow in May 16.

"The rules of UEFA are serious, and in Spain it is a joke," he fumed. "For that reason there's no point even talking about it. Every team is punished with cards for time-wasting, except Real Madrid."