Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has received a two-match La Liga suspension following his red card against Osasuna.
Bellingham was sent off in the first half of Madrid’s 1-1 draw at El Sadar on Saturday for swearing at referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero. Madrid plan to appeal the 21-year-old’s suspension.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said Bellingham displayed “contemptuous or inconsiderate attitudes towards referees, officials or sports authorities” when determining the England international’s ban.
The referee’s report stated Bellingham had said said “f*** you”, but the midfielder said there had been a “miscommunication” and he had not intended to insult the official.
Carlo Ancelotti explained at full time the sending off was a mix-up over Bellingham’s use of the phrase “f*** off”, which he claims was used to voice his confusion over a decision.
“There was no insult,” Bellingham said after the match. “You can see clearly in the video. I remember the incident very well. It was an expression to myself not directed towards the referee. But obviously there was a misunderstanding of what he believes I said to him. It wasn’t an insult at all.”
“F*** you” is considered a genuine insult while “F*** off”, in certain contexts, can be a way of saying “you’re joking” or “you’re messing around”.
“I’m pretty calm in this situation for saying an expression that I have been saying since I was 16 or 17 years old,” Bellingham added.
The 21-year-old’s sending off came after Madrid were frustrated at a number of first-half decisions, having seen three penalty appeals waved away.
It came against the backdrop of an ongoing tension between Madrid and Spain’s refereeing authorities. Madrid president Florentino Perez has long been critical of what many at the Bernabeu view as refereeing bias against their side.
In February the club filed a formal complaint to the RFEF and Spanish government’s High Sports Council (CSD) asking for the “immediate submission of VAR audio” in relation to the two decisions they felt had gone against them during a defeat to Espanyol.
Madrid play Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night before returning to La Liga action on Sunday against Girona.
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Bellingham sent off for swearing at referee: What happened, was it a ‘miscommunication’?
(Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images)
