The European Football Association (UEFA) announced a double punishment for English star Jude Bellingham, midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid. UEFA decided today, Friday, to suspend Bellingham for one match and fined him €30,000 (£25,000) due to his inappropriate celebration after scoring against Slovenia. UEFA also clarified that the punishment will be suspended for one year. Accordingly, Jude Bellingham will participate in the match against Switzerland tomorrow, Saturday, in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 tournament.
Bellingham celebrated his goal against Slovenia with an obscene gesture towards a sensitive area of his body, which some claimed was intended to offend members of the Slovakian team sitting on the bench, a claim the player later denied. Bellingham scored a crucial goal for his country in the 95th minute against Slovakia with a stunning bicycle kick, helping "the Three Lions" equalize the match at 1-1 in regular time, leading to extra time, during which captain Harry Kane scored the winning goal to advance to the quarter-finals.
