Why is Jude Bellingham not playing for Real Madrid against Celta Vigo in LaLiga?

Real Madrid’s top scorer Jude Bellingham was not included in Carlo Ancelotti’s match day 28 squad for their LaLiga game against Celta de Vigo.

The Englishman has played 22 games so far for Los Blancos and has scored 16 goals in what is turning out to be a stellar debut season in the Spanish capital. However, for the game against Celta Vigo, he was not permitted to be part of Ancelotti’s squad.

On match day 27, Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Valencia at Mestalla in a fiery game that saw the away side need to come back from 2-0 down to secure a draw. In the dying moments of the tie, Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal with seconds to spare.

Or so he thought.

How many games is Jude Bellingham suspended for?

Referee Gil Manzano had controversially blown for full-time as Brahim crossed towards the ex-Borussia Dortmund midfielder and in the ensuing madness, Bellingham was shown a red card for, according to Carlo Ancelotti, saying the words “it’s a fucking goal” to the official.

This language saw him awarded a straight red card which Real Madrid appealed. The resulting ban was given as a two-game punishment, meaning he will not play against Celta Vigo (Sunday 10, 1.30 p.m. ET/ 10.30 a.m. PT.) or Osasuna in Pamplona.

Related stories

INTER MIAMI

Superstars out for Miami against Montreal

MLS

Miami's Messi muscle musings

Bellingham continues to impress at the Santiago Bernabéu. The player got the assist in Real Madrid’s recent 1-1 draw (2-1 agg.) against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League, the goal which eventually gave his side a slim victory and a ticket to the quarter-final draw.

However, they will be Bellingham-less for two games in LaLiga now thanks to a strange incident which many people - including Ancelotti - called ‘unprecedented’. You can follow the game against Celta live on AS USA and coverage will start around an hour before kick-off.