The Beckhams seem about as popular Down Under as they are in Los Angeles, but even in LA David Beckham wouldn’t dare snub adorable children with cancer, would he?

Apparently he might have. A group of children were waiting outside of his hotel for autographs, a group of children with cancer, when he was whisked away into the foyer and never signed a single soccer ball.

“I would never have done that. Never have done, never will do. I’m more than willing to meet them wherever they want and at whatever time that they want,” said a surprised Beckham when journalists asked him why he had snubbed the children.

Fourteen-year-old leukemia survivor Emma Byers was left in tears after failing to give the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar a toy kangaroo as a welcome present.

“I’m quite happy to accept that he didn’t see the children. The kids were off to the side. The cameras were flashing. It was a bit dark,” her mother Anita told Australian Associated Press.

[New Zealand Herald]

Considering that the children didn’t have an organized meeting with Beckham it seems perfectly reasonable that he didn’t notice them.

Beckham later met with at least one of the children after his exhibition game in Sydney, little Emma mentioned in the article, but I think it was only so he could claim his toy kangaroo.

Becks, who hasn’t played much soccer this year after injuries kept him off the field, says his fitness ‘isn’t an issue’ and that he’ll play in all the exhibition games he’s scheduled to play in Sydney and Wellington. I guess fitness might not be an issue for him, but it might be for the accountants at Galaxy soccer club.

Becks is in Australia and New Zealand playing in exhibition games to raise the profile of soccer. Which is good, as there is no way that my son is playing football once he’s got his adult teeth.

Posh hasn’t joined her husband in Australia, but apparently decoy Victorias have been used to distract the paparazzi from David when entering hotels and press conferences. Where did they find someone that thin and haughty?

Picture note by Celebitchy: David Beckham is shown at the launch of the ‘Motorola Razr2 V8’ Luxury Edition mobile phone in Beijing, China on 11/24/07, and at a press conference in Sydney, Australia on 11/25. Thanks to WENN.