David Beckham libel case dismissed by judge in America

A judge has dismissed David Beckham's $25 million libel lawsuit

A judge in America has dismissed David Beckham's libel lawsuit against a US showbiz magazine.

Last year In Touch published a story claiming the footballer had cheated on his wife Victoria several times with a prostitute, which he's always denied.

Judge Manuel Real ruled he didn't show any evidence that the magazine published the story to damage him.

In the US, someone suing for libel has to prove the publication meant to harm them, which is called "actual malice".

Judge Real also said any allegations of cheating by the star would be of interest to the public.

But the LA Galaxy midfielder claims In Touch got its facts wrong.

Freedom of speech

In court papers, the 35-year-old argues he was actually with his sick father on one of the occasions he was stated to have been with the prostitute - a woman called Irma Nici.

His lawyer, Richard B Kendall, vowed to appeal against the decision.

After the ruling he said: "We were left with two hands tied behind our back for the purposes of this motion."

He also said the magazine had taken specific steps to stop the story getting to the UK, where libel laws would have worked more in David Beckham's favour.

Libel laws in Britain are much stricter and it's harder for the media to say exactly what they want.

But in America freedom of speech is one of the country's most basic constitutional rights.

It's safeguarded in the first amendment and, therefore, newspapers and magazines have more room to voice their opinions and stories without objection.

David Beckham's expecting his fourth child with his wife, Victoria, later this year. They already have three sons: Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz.

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