By England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been cleared to play in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday, following a UEFA investigation into a controversial gesture he made during England’s last-16 victory over Slovakia. The 21-year-old Real Madrid star received a one-match suspended ban and a fine of £25,400 (30,000 Euros) for his crotch-grabbing celebration after scoring a crucial late equalizer in the 2-1 win.
UEFA’s decision to suspend the ban for a year means Bellingham will be available for selection in England’s crucial match against Switzerland in Dusseldorf. The gesture, which Bellingham has previously made while playing for Real Madrid, was initially thought to be directed at the Slovakian bench. However, Bellingham denied this claim, stating on social media that it was “an inside-joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game” and expressed “nothing but respect for how Slovakia played.”
England manager Gareth Southgate welcomed the decision, describing it as “common sense.” He emphasized the intensity of the moment, given the quality and timing of Bellingham’s goal, and the player’s young age. Southgate stated, “I think there was no intent in the gesture towards anybody other than communication he has with his family. From our perspective, we thought it was a sensible outcome.”
Bellingham has been a key player for England in the tournament, starting all four matches and scoring two of England’s four goals, including the spectacular 95th-minute overhead kick equalizer against Slovakia. His availability for the quarter-final is a significant boost for England’s chances of progressing further in the competition.
The match against Switzerland is scheduled for 17:00 BST and will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live, and the BBC Sport website and app. All 26 players in Southgate’s squad participated in Friday morning’s training session, indicating a fully fit squad for the crucial encounter.
In related news, the Football Association has been fined £9,310 (11,000 euros) for crowd disturbances involving England supporters, with £8,460 (10,000 euros) for crowd disturbances and £850 (1,000 euros) for lighting fireworks.
Meanwhile, Turkey defender Merih Demiral received a two-match ban for a controversial ‘wolf salute’ gesture made during his side’s last-16 win against Austria. The gesture, associated with the far-right extremist group Grey Wolves, is banned in Austria and France. Demiral, who scored both of Turkey’s goals in their 2-1 victory, will miss their quarter-final clash against the Netherlands in Berlin.
As the Euro 2024 tournament progresses to its crucial stages, these disciplinary actions and their implications continue to shape the narrative surrounding the competition, highlighting the fine line between passionate celebrations and controversial gestures in international football.
bbc.com
