Jude Bellingham’s controversial celebration gesture towards Slovakia could see him banned from England’s quarter-final clash.
England secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Slovakia in the Euro 2024 round of 16, thanks to late goals from Bellingham and captain Harry Kane.
The match nearly ended disastrously for Gareth Southgate’s side, as Ivan Schranz’s 25th-minute goal put Slovakia in the lead.
With time running out, Bellingham saved England with a stunning equalizer in the 95th minute.
Harry Kane then netted the winner in the first minute of extra time, propelling England to the next stage of the tournament.
Despite the thrilling victory, the Three Lions face potential trouble, with reports suggesting that their hero, Bellingham, could be banned by UEFA.
Overcome with emotion after his last-minute goal, the Real Madrid player celebrated by shouting, “Who else?” However, during the celebration, he made an X-rated gesture towards the Slovakia bench.
Bellingham’s provocative celebration was caught on camera as he stared at the sidelines, moving his right hand from his face towards his thigh and then making a shoving motion. A video shared on X by 343 Digital captured the moment.
Bellingham later clarified on social media that the gesture was “an inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”
Despite this explanation, Portuguese publication A Bola reported that UEFA might still punish Bellingham with a one-match suspension.
Such a penalty would be a significant setback for Gareth Southgate’s squad as they prepare to face Switzerland in their quarter-final match on Saturday. The final decision from UEFA is still pending.
