Jude Bellingham could miss England’s quarter-final as UEFA investigate gesture | Football News
England mid-fielder Jude Bellingham scored a 95th-minute bicycle kick deep into the added time to equal Slovakia’s 1-0 lead in the Round Of 16 game at European Championships 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Thanks to the goal from Bellingham the game stretched to extra time and Harry Kane scored immediately at the beginning of Extra time and gave England the lead which was enough for them to go through to the Quarterfinals where they will face Switzerland.
However, there is a doubt that Bellingham would participate in the quarter-final clash with England because of his gestures after he scored the goal the game-changing goal on Sunday.
After scoring the 21-year-old kissed his right hand and moved it to his private parts. Though the referee on-field missed the gesture Bellingham might be sanctioned and face disciplinary action the UEFA governing body.
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectorate will conduct a disciplinary investigation into a possible breach of the basic rules of decent conduct England player Jude Bellingham, alleged to have occurred in the context of this match,” the governing body said.
However, Bellingham defended his action. “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,” Bellingham posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
However, irrespective of the reason behind his gestures UEFA’s rules are clear. “Any obscene gesture or offensive or insulting action must be punished with a red card.”
World is pretty different for him
“His world is different to pretty much every other 21-year-old in the world… what he can provide are these moments where he grabs things the scruff of the neck and his character and his personality creates moments that can change a big game,” Head Coach Gareth Southgate lauded Bellingham after the goal.
“I think it was 30 or 20 seconds until we were out of the European Championship,” Bellingham said. “It’s hard to deny that it was one of the most important moments of my career so far.”
