Sunday, December 22, 2024

Bellingham avoids immediate ban at Euro 2024 but England star still in hot water

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Jude Bellingham will be available to play against Switzerland having escaped an immediate ban for his goal celebration against Slovakia.

The England midfielder has been found guilty of ‘violating the basic rules of decent conduct’ and handed a €30,000 (£25,000) fine by UEFA.

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Bellingham made this gesture after his goalCredit: Rex

He has also been given a suspended one-match ban, which will not be immediately enforced and is subject to a year-long probationary period.

It means Bellingham will be banned for any similar rule breaches between now and July 2025, but can face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Saturday.

Bellingham made a crotch-grabbing gesture shortly after scoring a superb last-gasp equaliser in the 2-1 win, which was initially thought to be aimed at the Slovakian bench.

Bellingham took to social media later that evening to explain that his antics were an inside joke between himself and friends.

UEFA subsequently opened an investigation into the gesture, which has now concluded.

The Football Association was also fined a total of €11,000 for crowd disturbances and the lighting of fireworks among England fans in Germany.

Meanwhile, Turkey defender Merih Demiral was handed a two-match ban, effective immediately, for his goal celebration during the 2-1 win over Austria.

The 26-year-old appeared to make a wolf gesture with both hands, which is the symbol of a far-right ultra-nationalist ‘Grey Wolves’ group.

Demiral has put himself in hot water with his celebration

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Demiral has put himself in hot water with his celebrationCredit: AFP

The group is banned in France, and the wolf gesture is similarly banned in Austria. However, in Germany where the match took place, there are no such rules.

Two-goal hero Demiral will now miss the quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday, along with the semi-final if Turkey progress.

Declan Rice reveals Kyle Walker words of encouragement that led to Jude Bellingham’s last minute equaliser

England manager Gareth Southgate will breathe a sigh of relief after Bellingham was cleared to play in Dusseldorf on Saturday.

A ban always appeared unlikely after Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Simeone escaped suspensions for similar celebrations during the 2019 Champions League campaign, which fell under UEFA’s jurisdiction.

The Real Madrid talisman, widely considered one of the best players in world football right now, has scored two of the nation’s four goals at Euro 2024.

The Three Lions were 80 seconds away from an embarrassing exit until Bellingham’s stunning overhead kick on Sunday.

Nevertheless, Bellingham has been one of many underwhelming England stars in general play, and Southgate could mix things up against the Swiss in Dusseldorf.

It is understood the manager has been experimenting with a back-three, along with Bellingham and Phil Foden operating as two No.10s.

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