Leaked emails have revealed David Beckham's alleged rage over not obtaining a knighthood.
Cyber criminals, reportedly believed to be using Russian servers, demanded up to €1 million (NZ$1.47m) not to expose explicit messages and documents from the computer system of Beckham's PR agent Simon Oliveira.
After Mr Oliveira refused to pay blackmailers, a series of emails were leaked on Sunday.
Beckham, who retired from football in 2013, is said to have used foul language in emails to his PR team after missing out on being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, due to alleged concerns over tax affairs.
The Telegraph reported that in one message the 41-year-old former England captain branded the Honours Committee "unappreciative c***s" after missing out on a knighthood in 2013 and dismissed lesser awards, ranting: "Unless it's a knighthood f**k off".
Portugal police have been conducting a year-long investigation into the hacking of Mr Oliveira's sports agency.
The hackers are understood to have targeted a number of businesses connected to the football world.
A source told the Daily Mirror, "They approached by email and attempted to meet via another third party. They said we have all this information and you have to pay up. It was blackmail, pure and simple."
A spokesman for Beckham told The Sunday Telegraph: "This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture."
Unicef, the charity Beckham is a spokesman for, said they could not comment on the emails because they had not seen the originals.
The charity emphasised he was a generous man who had given his "time, energy and support to help raise awareness and funds for Unicef's work for children".
Beckham has reportedly denied his charity involvement is a way to build a favourable public image and gain the senior honour.
Newshub.
