James Shield - Talking Sport

THE man who provides the link with Major League Soccer teams and referees insists David Beckham will not receive special protection from officials in MLS.

And no wonder.

It is his club, Los Angeles Galaxy and the English FA he needs protecting from not Jesse Marsch, the LA Chivas midfielder whose tackle on Beckham provoked an angry response from the England international and his team-mates.

Ever-so-slightly green eyes accepted, it is difficult to feel sorry for a well-paid footballer who keeps one eye on the pitch and another on his next PR opportunity, but recent events have earned my sympathy.

Ken van Someren, who is responsible for the health of Britain's elite athletes at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport, says Beckham's frequent flying was a cause for serious concern during an interview on the subject earlier this month.

"The problems are twofold - a reduced performance and an increased risk of injury," van Someren said.

"I would want to track very carefully how that athlete was coping.

"Now if you fly somewhere that is eight hours different (the time difference between Los Angeles and London) you are not going to be at your peak for a few days - you're going to be less strong, less flexible and less alert, which is going to increase the risk of injury.

"Put it this way, when it comes to next year's Olympics in Beijing, none of our athletes will be travelling across that many time zones within a week of competition."

So why Beckham?

The answer, clearly, is that he has become a cash cow from which the businessmen and women who seem to have established a stranglehold on world sport are determined to squeeze every last dollar.

Joe Machnik's admission that the subject of affording Beckham special treatment from referees was approached during a pre-season coaches seminar indicates he is regarded as a product as much as a person even though the suggestion was politely brushed aside.

Wednesday's friendly against Germany marked the start of a demanding schedule for Beckham which could see him play 21 games in seven different time zones by November.

More if Galaxy, who generously allowed him to miss their weekend trip to Colorado, reach the MLS play-offs.

Or, to put it into perspective, the equivalent of over three times around the equator and a week in the air.