As confirmed by Spain’s competition committee on Wednesday, Jude Bellingham has been suspended for two LaLiga matches due to “contemptuous or disrespectful attitudes towards a referee.” This punishment comes as a result of his red card following Real Madrid’s contentious 2-2 draw against Valencia.
Moments after the final whistle, Bellingham was issued a red card for arguing with referee Jesús Gil Manzano, who had already halted play moments before Bellingham’s header into the back of the net — a goal that would have secured three points for Madrid.
According to Manzano’s postmatch report, Bellingham had an “aggressive attitude” and allegedly shouted “It’s a f—ing goal” repeatedly.
On Wednesday, the Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee imposed a two-game suspension on Bellingham, the minimum penalty for the offense as per its regulations. The ruling cited “attitudes of disrespect or a lack of consideration towards the referee.” Additionally, the club received a €700 fine, while the player himself was fined €600.
During the hearing, Madrid presented evidence contending that Bellingham’s behavior lacked aggression, asserting that the player had engaged with the referee only once. They also refuted any claims that his words were offensive or insulting.
The committee ruled that the evidence presented by the club was not enough to definitively support their case, resulting in Bellingham’s suspension being handed down. As a result of the suspension, Bellingham will be absent from Madrid’s upcoming LaLiga fixtures against Celta Vigo on Sunday and Osasuna on March 16. However, the England star will be able to play for Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday against RB Leipzig.
