Beckham said his treatment was an 'absolute disgrace'

He said he had contemplated refusing to talk to sections of the press and singled out the Daily Mail, News of the World and Sky for criticism.

"With two papers, the way I and my family have been treated is an absolute disgrace," he said at an England training session in Sardinia.

His comments come three weeks ahead of the Euro 2004 competition in Portugal.

His wife Victoria and their two children are set to move to Spain to be with the Real Madrid player, ahead of his second season with the club.

The way the news side have treated me in the last few months has been an absolute disgrace David Beckham

It is the first time David Beckham has spoken about the allegations publicly since they were published in April.

"The way the news side have treated me in the last few months has been an absolute disgrace," he said

"They've tried to ruin my family.

"I've been called a bad father, a bad husband and my wife's been called a bad mother

"Things always hurt that are said about my family. For people to call my wife a bad mother is unbelievable.

"At the end of the day, I'm a nice person and loving husband and father.

He said he had thought about not speaking to some media outlets but said: "I realise as England captain I have an obligation to talk to the fans and that's why I do it."

Sven's support

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has also had his private life scrutinised in the press, supported his team's captain in Sardinia on Monday.

He said David Beckham was in a "very good" frame of mind.

Meanwhile the News of the World said it stood by its stories on Beckham "100%".

And Sky said it had "accurately and fairly reported developments in David Beckham's private life over the last few months".

Beckham's comments came days after he cast aside rumours he would return to the English Premiership next season.

Instead, Victoria will continue her career from the family's base in Spain and Brooklyn will enrol at a Spanish school.