Jude Bellingham Faces Possible Ban After Controversial Gesture in Real Madrid’s El Clasico Win
Jude Bellingham may be banned for making an offensive gesture following Real Madrid’s 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona.
The English midfielder won the game at the Bernabeu, but after cameras seemed to catch him making the identical gesture that got him in trouble at Euro 2024, his celebration has once again generated criticism.
Bellingham scored a goal and provided an assist in one of the most anticipated La Liga games of the season, helping Real Madrid defeat Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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After Kylian Mbappe gave Madrid the lead, Fermin-Lopez tied the score for Barcelona, then Bellingham scored shortly before halftime to give Los Blancos the lead again, which turned out to be the game winning goal.
But the festivities took a surprising turn when the England international was seen on camera pointing to his crotch and sticking out his tongue in front of the fans.
After Bellingham scored for England against Slovakia at Euro 2024, he did the similar gesture, for which UEFA fined him £25,000 and sidelined him from one match. The incident swiftly went viral on social media.
The gesture has put Bellingham in the awkward limelight once more, overshadowing a fantastic performance that enabled Real Madrid increase their lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
Later in the match, Andriy-Lunin was sent off in stoppage time after a brawl between many players, escalating the already intense battle.
A decision may be made based on how seriously the regulatory bodies perceive Bellingham’s intent, although La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) are anticipated to examine the video to decide whether his actions call for disciplinary punishment.
Bellingham might receive a fine or possibly a brief suspension if he is found guilty, which would be a costly setback for Real Madrid as they are up for a difficult schedule.
The midfielder’s comeback during the international break has been hailed by head coach Xabi Alonso, who will want to retain one of his most important players accessible.
“He’s had three very good games,” Alonso stated following the game. He needed a few minutes to get going, as we knew before the last break, but he has performed better than we anticipated.
Jude is all about connecting, feeling, and talking. He has played some excellent games as a result. A Real Madrid player has previously been involved in controversy for a comparable act.
Gareth Bale made the notorious “corte de mangas” gesture against Atletico Madrid supporters back in 2019; this gesture is highly disrespectful in Spain, yet he got away with it.
Bellingham, who will be hoping that the Spanish FA adopts a more forgiving stance, may find some solace in that precedent.
Even though UEFA does not have jurisdiction over La Liga games, the midfielder’s prior incident at Euro 2024 might not be in his favour.
Last week, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick found himself in deep water after receiving a second yellow card for a gesture he made during a victory against Girona.
Flick was also suspended from the El Clasico touchline and given a one-match penalty.
Now, all eyes will be on La Liga to see if they can crack down on Bellingham’s X-rated gesture with the same vigour.
If they don’t, it could be a reiteration of a joke made by Lamine Yamal prior to the Clasico, which many La Liga supporters have felt over the past few seasons.
Will Bellingham be suspended for the match against Valencia?
Although no official comment has been issued as of yet, Bellingham will now wait for any official word from the league officials on possible penalty.
A review procedure might take days, if past events provide any guide. Real Madrid’s legal staff will probably contend that the gesture was performed in fun or that the cameras misconstrued it.
The episode will probably be widely covered in Spanish media in the days ahead, rekindling discussions that have been going on for weeks, even if he escapes a ban.
The 22-year-old is still committed to keeping up his excellent play for Madrid as the season approaches a pivotal point.
Bellingham will be hoping that his club performances, rather than his on-field antics, become the talking point ahead of the Three Lions’ forthcoming matches against Serbia and Albania after being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England team.
