UEFA is investigating England midfielder Jude Bellingham’s goal celebration following his stunning overhead kick against Slovakia for a “potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct.”
Bellingham rescued England from Euro 2024 elimination with his 95th-minute effort which cancelled out Ivan Schranz’s first-half goal. Harry Kane then secured the Three Lions a quarter-final place against Switzerland on Saturday with a header at the start of extra-time.
England will now fear going into that game without Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham, who was pictured gesturing with his arm near his crotch as he walked back to the halfway line after his goal.
Bellingham took to social media last night to make clear his gesture was in no way aimed at the Slovakia coaching staff.
He wrote on X: “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”
🥱❌- An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.🤝🏽 https://t.co/H8sETMkPoi
— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) June 30, 2024
However, his clarification has not dissuaded UEFA from probing the matter further.
A disciplinary release from European football’s governing body this afternoon stated it was charging the Football Association with a “lack of order or discipline by supporters” as well as the “lighting of fireworks” during the game in Gelsenkirchen. At the bottom of the charge sheet, it read: “Furthermore, a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct by the English Football Association player, Jude Bellingham, having allegedly occurred in the scope of this match.”
Although Bellingham has been a long way from his best in Germany, he has scored two of England’s four goals having also netted in the 1-0 defeat of Serbia.
And he remains a key part of Gareth Southgate’s first-choice XI, playing in the number 10 role behind Kane. It would, therefore, be a major blow if the 21-year-old was ruled out of the game at the weekend through suspension.
That is considered unlikely, though.
In 2019, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was fined £17,000, but not suspended, for grabbing his crotch while celebrating a goal for his side in a Champions League game against Juventus.
The return leg saw Cristiano Ronaldo fined the same amount for an identical celebration, in which he appeared to mimic Simeone.
