Jude Bellingham has been banned from Real Madrid's next two La Liga games. Why? For insulting the referee, as was alleged in their draw game against Osasuna. That's what English midfielder Jose Luis Munuera Montero claims he shouted in a brazen "go f. yourself." That would get him a direct red card, straight out of the lips of justice. The team tried to appeal, with a rationale of "misunderstanding," which, however, failed as the Spanish Federation turned down the attempt, closing any door for debate.
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The game-changing ejection
This confrontation took place in the 39th minute of the second period. Osasuna had just struck a free kick into the box, an absolute pivotal moment in any tight game. As it went down, Bellingham approached the referee, annoyed. A few words were exchanged, and within seconds, the red card was held out without hesitation.
But what did he say? The referee is certain that he heard a blatant insult. Bellingham claims otherwise. He maintains that his words were misunderstood, that the tape does not capture the full sentence, and that he was expressing his fury at himself, not at the official. Real Madrid saw the tape and appealed against the decision, but the Federation's response was cold and firm — there was no evidence to prove that Bellingham's version of events was true.
And so it was, without further ado, that Bellingham will be missing crucial games against Girona and Betis.
Referee's word vs. Video evidence
The Spanish Federation based its decision on evidence presuming that the report of the referee is true by nature. Real Madrid argued that there was no undisputed footage to prove the insult, but the Disciplinary Committee rejected the argument with a bureaucratic tone: "The video does not clearly capture the exact moment when the complete sentence was said."
In other words, without irrefutable proof to contradict the referee’s version, his statement stands. And Bellingham pays the price.
How this suspension affects Real Madrid
Losing Bellingham for the next two matches is a major setback for Real Madrid. Since arriving in Spain, the English midfielder has been nothing short of sensational. Whether scoring crucial goals or controlling the midfield, he has become a fundamental piece in Carlo Ancelotti’s system.
It's a huge setback, especially with the La Liga title bid intensifying. Ancelotti will be required to rebuild his team and determine how he can make the team competitive without one of its brightest stars.