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England midfielder Jude Bellingham has avoided an immediate ban after the England midfielder appeared to make an offensive gesture in his team's win over Slovakia in the UEFA Euro 2024. The Real Madrid man has been one of the most important players for the Three Lions and his loss could have caused an early exit for Gareth Southgate's side.
Bellingham scored a brilliant overhead kick in the 94th minute to equalise for the Three Lions in their last-16 match against Slovakia. Celebrating this strike, the midfielder was seen grabbing his crotch while pointing towards the Slovakian bench. This gesture led to a UEFA investigation where Bellingham was given a one-game ban which “is not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary period” of a year.
UEFA said in a statement: "The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has taken the following decisions: UEFA EURO round of 16 match between England and Slovakia played on 3 July 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Charges against English Football Association: Crowd disturbances, Art. 16(2)(h) DR; Lighting of fireworks, Art. 16(2)(c) DR. Charges against English Football Association player Jude Bellingham: Violating the basic rules of decent conduct, Art. 11(2)(b) DR. The CEDB has decided to fine the English Football Association €10,000 for crowd disturbances and €1,000 for lighting of fireworks."
"To fine the English Football Association player Jude Bellingham €30,000 and to suspend him for a total of one UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible for violating the basic rules of decent conduct. Said suspension is not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision." With this decision, Bellingham will be available for England's game against Switzerland on Saturday for a place in the semifinals after UEFA.
Turkey's Merih Demiral handed two-game ban for celebration vs Austria
Unlike Jude Bellingham, Turkey's Merih Demiral was handed a two-game ban for a certain gesture he performed during his team's round-of-16 win over Austria. UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that it had appointed an inspector to investigate Demiral, and on Friday said in a statement that he had been banned "for failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute."
