England are unhappy after UEFA decided to fine Jude Bellingham and give the youngster a suspended one-match ban ahead of their Euro 2024 showdown with Switzerland on Saturday.
Bellingham has been fined €30,000 (£25,400) after performing a gesture towards his crotch in the 2-1 win over Slovakia last weekend.
The 21-year-old has also received a suspended one-match ban, with UEFA finding he he was guilty of ‘violating the basic rules of decent conduct’.
England will be relieved that Bellingham is free to play against Switzerland in their quarter-final clash on Saturday.
England are unhappy after UEFA decided to fine Jude Bellingham and give the youngster a suspended one-match ban ahead of their Euro 2024 showdown with Switzerland on Saturday
PA
But Sky Sports say they’re unhappy at the punishment dished out to the Real Madrid star.
It’s said they find it harsh that Bellingham has been fined and given a one-match ban when there was no bad intent behind his actions.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid star, who has scored two goals at Euro 2024 so far, immediately clarified his gesture after the win over Slovakia.
Responding to a fan who said he’d aimed the gesture at the Slovakia bench, Bellingham said: “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game.
“Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”
Bellingham is expected to start for England when they go up against the Swiss.
The Three Lions are the favourites to win the match given the talent they have at their disposal.
But Switzerland are Euro 2024’s dark horses after impressing in the competition so far.
They finished second in a group consisting of Germany, Hungary and Scotland – picking up five points from a possible nine.
And they were outstanding in their 2-0 victory over Italy in the round of 16 six days ago.
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Bellingham has been accused of arrogance at Euro 2024.
But Stan Collymore, speaking to CaughtOffside, believes the 21-year-old has every right to be cocky and confident given everything he’s achieved so far.
“Jude Bellingham’s still a baby and people will say he’s done very little in his career,” he said.
“He’s not, as the kids say, ‘the man’ yet.
“But if you’re La Liga Player of the Year, you’ve won the Champions League and you’ve been a key part of that then, of course, you’re going to have cockiness and sureness in your own ability.
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England star Jude Bellingham has been punished for a rude gesture performed after the 2-1 win over Slovakia on Sunday
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“He’s not got a final body of work, but I love the attitude he displays.
“I think one of the big, big things about English football, when it comes to English players, is we’ve never celebrated players with talent until long after they’ve retired.
“In Jude’s case, I think that it is both true that I want him to be cocky and confident and to have ultimate self belief, but I also want him to be a fully functioning member and part of the team.
“To remember that his success cannot come without the success of others.
“There’s been a couple of times when he’s gone over to Gareth Southgate and taken instructions then gesticulated a little bit, but again, I think that he’s young and still learning.
England star Jude Bellingham is expected to start his side’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with Switzerland on Saturday
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“He probably watches, or has watched, lots of big name players take centre stage, not just with their performances but how they interact with the bench.
“The media are saying how good he’s been since 16 years of age, so he’s probably thinking ‘how can I now play the part on and off the pitch?’
“If he gets punished because of his crotch-grabbing antics it would be incredibly negative, and the reaction to him would be interesting.
“Let’s not forget Wayne Rooney and David Beckham have had the naughty little boy tabloid treatment, so he needs to be careful.”