The former England captain arrived at the university's campus to coach some young footballers. Thousands of fans and students, who had been waiting for hours in anticipation of catching a glimpse of their hero, invaded the university's football pitch the moment he arrived. Those who had been left outside the gate broke the security cordon in a stampede which resulted in at least five people being taken to hospital. A kick-about with the university's footballers had to be cancelled because of safety fears, and David Beckham issued an apology on his recently opened Weibo account. “Sorry I couldn't get out on the pitch to see the teams. It was impossible to get through the massive crowds,” he wrote, wishing the injured “a speedy recovery.”