Kelvin Bowoto
Jude Bellingham has been banned for two La Liga games for “contemptuous or disrespectful attitudes towards a referee” after receiving a red card in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s contentious 2-2 draw at Valencia, Spain’s competition commission announced on Wednesday.
The England player was awarded a red card for arguing with referee Jesús Gil Manzano, who had already blown his whistle moments before Bellingham scored the game-winning header.
According to the referee’s post-match report, Bellingham exhibited an “aggressive attitude” and allegedly shouted “It’s a f—ing goal” several times.
On Wednesday, the Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee issued Bellingham a two-game suspension—the minimum possible under its rules—for what it called “attitudes of disrespect or a lack of consideration towards the referee,” along with a €700 fine for the club and a €600 fine for the player.
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Madrid maintained before the committee that Bellingham had not shown an aggressive attitude, claiming that the player had only spoken to the referee once and denied that his statements were rude or insulting.
The committee determined that the club had not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt based on the evidence offered and hence had to accept the referee’s interpretation of Bellingham’s actions.
Bellingham will miss Madrid’s La Liga games against Celta Vigo on Sunday and Osasuna on March 16 but will return for the encounter against Athletic Club on March 31.
He will play for Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday when they face RB Leipzig in the second leg at the Bernabéu.
Bellingham is also one yellow card away from a possible one-match suspension in the Champions League, having already received two this season.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
