David Beckham's been forced to turn defender after being accused of snubbing a group of child cancer survivors.

The footie star arrived in Sydney by private jet while his Los Angeles Galaxy team mates came on a scheduled airline from the United States.

David apparently walked straight past a group of children from Camp Quality outside his hotel as he was ushered in under police escort.

The England star failed to speak to them when he arrived at his hotel in Australia - but he says he had no idea they were there.

A 14-year-old leukaemia survivor Emma Byers was left in tears when she couldn't give him her planned present of a toy kangaroo.

Beckham is in Sydney for the LA Galaxy's exhibition match against Sydney FC on Tuesday night.

He'll then go to New Zealand for the Galaxy's friendly against Wellington Phoenix.

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