Goal celebration causes anger
Alleged “joke”: UEFA investigates Bellingham
01.07.2024, 18:21
With a last-minute overhead kick, Jude Bellingham saves the English national football team in the European Championship round of 16 and takes it to extra time. His celebration afterwards provokes – and now he must expect consequences. UEFA is investigating the superstar.
The European Football Union UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the English international Jude Bellingham. The continental association announced that it is investigating whether the 21-year-old violated the rules of conduct with his obscene gesture in the European Championship round of 16 match against Slovakia (2:1 after extra time). If Bellingham is punished, he could face consequences for the upcoming quarter-finals.
Bellingham saved the English team in extra time on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen with a dream goal to make it 1-1. His celebration after the goal caused controversy. The Real Madrid midfielder was accused of grabbing the opponent’s crotch in an attempt to grab the opponent’s bench. However, the bench seemed to be far away from the scene of the action, in the other half of the pitch, as footage taken by fans in the stands suggests.
The former Borussia Dortmund professional defended himself against the criticism and shared a video via X, explaining: “That was an inside message to a few of my friends who were in the stadium. Nothing but respect for Slovakia and how they played today.”
He had already caused a stir with his shout of joy after the spectacular overhead kick. “Who else?” he shouted, wanting to defend himself against the criticism of the past few days. “Playing for England is a nice feeling, but the pressure is great and people talk a lot of rubbish,” said the young star in the press conference after the game, adding smugly: “It’s nice that you can give them a little something back.” England will now face in the quarter-finals on Saturday (6 p.m./MagentaTV and in the live ticker at ntv.de) in Düsseldorf to Switzerland.
The winning goal scorer Harry Kane and co. were able to avert the huge embarrassment and the end of the almost eight-year era of national coach Gareth Southgate with a lot of luck and a late stroke of genius from Bellingham. Kane spoke of “one of the best goals in England’s history” – which had averted the elimination against the underdog in the round of 16 at the last minute.