David Beckham believes the reaction to his 1998 World Cup red card would have been a whole lot worse in the social media age.
Beckham was targeted after being sent off for lashing out against Diego Simeone in the round of 16 stage defeat to Argentina when he was 23.
The then-Manchester United winger was constantly booed and jeered by opposition fans for much of the 1998-99 season with a burning effigy of him strung up during the height of the backlash.
Beckham admitted the treatment was 'brutal', but believes young players in the game today have things harder.
Beckham was speaking at a mental health summit organised by the Duke of Cambridge, corresponding with the announcement that all levels of the English game have signed a joint declaration committing to make mental health a key priority as a legacy of Prince William's 'Heads Up' programme.
"I think that when I was playing, stakes were high, but I don't think they were as high as they are now in the game and I feel there are so many more distractions and obstacles now that can affect players from a very young age - and that's why I feel that what you've (Prince William) done, what you've created and what is happening here with this movement is so important.
"It's OK to not be OK - and I think back in the day it wasn't - it wasn't OK to have a problem.
"I made a mistake you know, I made a mistake in '98 and the reaction at the time was pretty brutal.
"Times have changed. If social media was around when I was going through that time in '98, it would have been a whole different story."
