LONDON – Real Madrid soccer star David Beckham (search) and his wife Victoria (search) are taking legal action against a British tabloid newspaper over an article which claimed their marriage was in trouble, their lawyers said Tuesday
The lawyers said the article in the News of the World newspaper, headlined "Posh and Becks on Rocks," was untrue and caused the couple "considerable distress."
"David and Victoria Beckham today initiated legal proceedings against the News of the World in relation to an article published on Sunday, 12 September 2004," said a statement, issued by the law firm Harbottle and Lewis.
"The News of the World was given the opportunity to provide an apology but have chosen not to respond to the couple's request."
The newspaper declined to comment.
The couple have two children, Brooklyn, 5, and Romeo, 2, and are expecting their third child in March.
The marriage of Britain's No. 1 celebrity couple hit the headlines in April when a former personal aide, Rebecca Loos, claimed she and David Beckham had had a 10-day affair. He dismissed the claim as "ludicrous" and "absurd."
Victoria, 30, is a former member of the band the Spice Girls (search) and is still known by the nickname "Posh Spice."
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