LONDON – Soccer star David Beckham (search) accepted libel damages Wednesday from a tabloid newspaper that falsely accused him of making hate calls to a former nanny.
Beckham's lawyer, Gerrard Tyrrell, said the publisher of The People newspaper had agreed to pay substantial damages and court costs and to refrain from repeating the allegations. The amount of damages was not disclosed.
The England and Real Madrid star, whose income is the highest in world soccer, had sued the newspaper over a story published last month headlined: "Becks phone fury. England ace plagues ex-nanny with hate calls"
Tyrrell said the claims were "completely untrue."
Rachel Glavin, lawyer for publisher MGN, said the company acknowledged that the allegations were untrue.
"The defendants apologize to Mr. Beckham for the distress and injury caused to him," she said.
Beckham was not at London's High Court for Wednesday's hearing.
Beckham, 30, and his former Spice Girl wife Victoria Beckham (search) also are suing former nanny Abbie Gibson (search) for telling a tabloid newspaper that their marriage was on the rocks.
Gibson was paid $225,000 for the story, which was published in the News of the World newspaper in April.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox