EU referendum: Ex-footballer David Beckham backs Remain

David Beckham said playing for Real Madrid and other clubs on the continent had made him a better person

David Beckham has urged people to vote to stay in the European Union, saying the UK should be "facing the problems of the world together and not alone".

The ex-footballer and Unicef ambassador said people should think of their children and grandchildren before Thursday's vote.

He said his experience playing across Europe instilled in him the importance of a "vibrant and connected world".

Vote Leave said they had support from other footballers, like Sol Campbell.

Meanwhile, Victoria Beckham has accused Leave supporters of trying to "misuse" comments she made in the past about Europe.

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The UK will vote on whether to remain in the EU or to leave on Thursday.

Mr Beckham - who represented England 115 times and won a host of trophies playing for Manchester United before spells at Real Madrid and LA Galaxy - wrote on Facebook that he respected those who supported Brexit but believed the UK's future was best served remaining in the EU.

Drawing on his experience on the pitch, he said the heart of Manchester United's title winning teams in the 1990s may have been English but they would not have achieved so much without the input of players from elsewhere in Europe.

"Now that team might have gone on to win trophies but we were a better and more successful team because of a Danish goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, the leadership of an Irishman Roy Keane and the skill of a Frenchman in Eric Cantona."

He added: "I was also privileged to play and live in Madrid, Milan and Paris with teammates from all around Europe and the world.

"Those great European cities and their passionate fans welcomed me and my family and gave us the opportunity to enjoy their unique and inspiring cultures and people.

"For our children and their children we should be facing the problems of the world together and not alone. For these reasons I am voting to Remain."

Victoria Beckham has hit out at Leave campaigners

After Leave.EU posted this Twitter message - which she said misrepresented her views

And Rio Ferdinand has said he is worried about the opportunities for his children in the event of Brexit

Victoria Beckham said she shared her husband's views and attacked the Leave.EU campaign after it posted a message on Twitter suggesting she believed EU bureaucrats were "destroying" the UK's "national identity and individuality".

It went on to suggest David Beckham "should have listened to the missus".

Writing on Instagram, the fashion designer said Leave campaigners were "trying to put a spin on quotes made 20 years ago about keeping or losing the pound" which she said had nothing to do with the current debate.

"I have to say strongly my comments should not be misused in this country," she said. "I believe in my country. I believe in a future for my children where we are stronger together and I support the Remain campaign".

'On the pitch'

Mr Cameron, who worked closely with the footballer in the unsuccessful bid to bring the 2018 World Cup to the UK, said people should heed what he was saying.

"There was a very moving statement today from David Beckham talking about his children and saying how effectively, what he said to me was, 'you can't win in Europe, unless you're on the pitch," he told ITV's Lorraine.

Rio Ferdinand, a former Manchester United team mate of David Beckham's, has also come out for Remain, saying the choice is so important that he is considering voting for the first time.

He told the Evening Standard that he didn't like the Leave campaign's focus on immigration and was worried Brexit would result in the UK "pulling up the drawbridge".

Among other former and current professional sportspeople to sign a letter backing Remain include ex-athletes Paula Radcliffe and Steve Cram, former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio, former darts player Bobby George and Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie.

Leave campaigner Michael Gove told the BBC it had the support of former England internationals Sol Campbell and John Barnes and joked that, being a QPR supporter, he relished being the underdog.

Cricket legend Ian Botham is among former big name sportspeople backing Brexit.