Jude Bellingham Receives Suspended Ban and Fine for Controversial Celebration Gesture
Jude Bellingham, the 21-year-old midfielder for the England national team, has been handed a suspended one-match ban and fined €30,000 by UEFA for a gesture he made during England’s Euro 2024 last-16 victory over Slovakia. The suspension is subject to a probationary period of one year, starting from the date of UEFA’s decision.
Bellingham’s gesture, which came after he scored a spectacular overhead kick in the 95th minute to force the game into extra time, was investigated by UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspector. The midfielder denied that the gesture was aimed at Slovakia or their supporters, stating that it was an “inside joke” directed at some close friends who were at the game.
In addition to Bellingham’s punishment, the English Football Association (FA) has also been fined €11,000 for crowd disturbances and lighting of fireworks during the match.
Bellingham, who has scored two crucial goals for England so far in the tournament, will be available for their quarter-final match against Switzerland on Saturday. A win in that game would set up a semi-final clash with either Turkey or the Netherlands.
Under manager Gareth Southgate, England reached the last Euros final and went deep at the last two World Cups, only to fall short in the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022.
