David Beckham: I prefer watching live rugby to football

Great Britain and Ireland's David Beckham smiles before the Unicef Match for Children charity soccer match between a Great Britain and Ireland team and a Rest of the World team at Old Trafford Stadiu

He is without doubt the most famous footballer on the planet.

But now even David Beckham has admitted that he prefers watching rugby - because there is 'no nastiness' with the fans.

The former England captain has spoken of how it was 'never nice' to go as a child to watch Tottenham play Manchester United, because 'you felt uneasy.'

And he revealed he is a huge rugby fan and recently has enjoyed going to Twickenham more than he has enjoyed watching football.

He was speaking in an interview for the Christmas edition of the Radio Times to promote the work of his UNICEF backed fund called 7.

The 40-year-old father of four is hoping that his work with the charity will help to rescue the reputation of the game he loves.

He said: "World football has had a hell of a lot of negative press. I'm not trying to help them out but I want to show the good that football can do."

Speaking about the corruption claims and controversies surrounding football's governing body Fifa, the star was cautious about saying they had turned a corner.

"No - they are just hitting the bend," he said. "There's a lot still to be done. It's such a mess that it's going to take a while to sort out. For me to see the game, the way it's been treated and looked after, is devastating. It's disgusting."

He agreed that the staging of the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and in Qatar in 2022, should continue, despite allegations of corruption.

He said: 'Whether it's corrupt or not, those countries have been chosen. People need to get behind that. It's all about bringing football to new countries. I think they should stick with it.'

And of Qatar, he added: 'They'll make it work. They will make a World Cup work in that part of the world.'

He did not expand on his 'uneasy' experience of watching football as a boy, but added that 'football is so powerful' and the passion comes 'because it matters so much to people.'

Speaking about his current love, rugby, his eyes lit up. He said: 'I love rugby - I love watching it and I love the whole thing. I have enjoyed going to Twickenham more than I have enjoyed watching football.'

When asked why, he said it was all about the fans: 'People sitting together with no nastiness.'

Beckham said he had mixed feelings when his son Romeo told him he no longer wanted to play football. 'Part of me was devastated but part of me was relieved, too,' he said.

The sport star said his 13-year-old, who followed his brother into the Arsenal academy but now models clothes for fashion giant Burberry, has other passions in life.

Beckham also spoke about his eldest son Brooklyn, saying 'photography is his passion', a pursuit evident on the 16-year-old's Instagram account which has more than five million followers.

He has two other children, 10-year-old Cruz and four-year-old Harper, with wife Victoria.

-DAILY MAIL