Jude Bellingham receives suspension before huge Champions League game

On the eve of Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout phase playoff second leg against Manchester City, Jude Bellingham has been handed a two-game suspension for his red card in the LaLiga game against Osasuna on Saturday.

Bellingham’s controversial red card after Osasuna ref clash

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) deemed Bellingham’s words to referee José Luis Munuera Montero, allegedly “fuck you,” according to the referee’s report, to be disrespectful.

The Englishman, however, has claimed he said “fuck off”, rather than “fuck you,” and that he wasn’t addressing the match official directly.

“You can see in the video that it’s just an expression for me,” Bellingham told reporters after the game. “It’s clear that the mistake was due to a misunderstanding. There was no intention to insult, there was no insult. It was clearly a mistake by the referee. I remember everything very well, and what’s shown in the video doesn’t match the official report. I don’t want to go into details about what was said, but it’s an expression like ‘joder!’”

By referring to the Spanish term, Bellingham was seemingly attempting to indicate his use of the phrase “fuck off” was down to his annoyance at the situation, not an insult aimed at the referee.

Real Madrid had submitted video evidence, including a report by recognized forensic lip reader, supposedly proving the midfielder had said “fuck off,” and not “fuck you”.

What games will Bellingham miss? Can he play against Manchester City in the Champions League?

However, the red card has been upheld by the RFEF and Bellingham is now due to serve a two-game suspension. Real Madrid are expected to appeal the decision.

There had been a suggestion he could be forced to sit out between four and 12 games if his words had been deemed insulting, rather than disrespectful.

As the sending-off occurred in a domestic fixture, Bellingham will be able to play in Madrid’s Champions League game against Manchester City on Wednesday. He will be suspended for his team’s next two LaLiga encounters, at home to Girona (Sunday, February 23) and away to Real Betis (Sunday, March 2).

The 21-year-old will, though, be available in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg against Real Sociedad, which falls between the two league games.

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