I’m guessing you never saw Nigel De Jong kicking Xabi Alonso square in the chest during the 2010 World Cup final?

That happened after 28 minutes, and the Netherlands ended up coming within 5 minutes of taking the match to penalties. The referee’s failure to show a red card could easily have cost Spain victory.

Beckham and other players were kids in an era where players were earning more and more than their counterparts and often away from home.

Exactly. You just have to read any of the stories about what Cantona was allowed to get away with and you realise how ridiculous it is to say that he only cared about being able to control people.

was within his rights to move a player on who wasn’t fully committed.

Not only “within his rights”, but ultimately right. He sold Beckham and brought in Ronaldo, and after 3 rough (by Sir Alex’s standards) seasons, the club went on to win a further 5 league titles and never finished outside of the top 2.

After dropping him with no apparent explanation given.