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Jude Bellingham is set to escape a ban and play in England’s Euros quarter-final against Switzerland.
The playmaker is being investigated by UEFA following a seemingly-lewd gesture he made after scoring a 95th minute overhead kick to keep Gareth Southgate’s side in the competition – with a verdict expected before Saturday’s clash in Dusseldorf.
Mail Sport understands that a ban is highly unlikely, with a potential fine a more probable outcome should he be found guilty of a breach of decency rules.
The news will come as a huge boost for England, with influential Bellingham having scored twice so far during the competition.
After England went on to complete a face-saving win over Slovakia, the 21-year-old took to social media to point out that the gesture, which saw him mimic cupping his testicles, was an ‘inside joke’ aimed towards close friends who were in the stands. ‘Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,’ he added, on X.
Jude Bellingham appeared to make an X-rated gesture towards the Slovakian bench after scoring for England on Sunday
The star is set to escape a ban and play in England’s Euros quarter-final against Switzerland
Bellingham was given three days to respond to UEFA and it is thought he repeated that stance in his defence. The Slovakian FA were also asked for their reflections.
UEFA also charged the FA with lack of order or discipline by supporters and the lighting of fireworks.
Later, after Harry Kane had scored a winner in extra-time, Declan Rice was involved in a heated exchange with opposition officials including manager Francesco Calzona, which led to him being held back by Aaron Ramsdale. Rice appeared to call the Italian, who had tried to approach the officials, a ‘bald c***’.
However, Rice did not feature among the charges surrounding the Gelsenkirchen last-16 clash.
Bellingham has, though, been warned about his conduct by former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, according to Bild.
Bellingham avoiding a ban would be a welcome boost for Gareth Southgate ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final
Hamann, who has suggested England wouldn’t have a problem if they lost their star midfielder, said; ‘He’s got to leave them things out because there’s always someone bigger than you and the other players will watch his antics.
‘He’s got to be very careful because the one thing you shouldn’t do is disrespect your opponents,’ Hamann added. ‘Against Slovakia he made his excuses, but it wouldn’t have been the first time that something has happened with him. Somebody has to tell him it’s needless and he should cut it out.’
Bellingham was seen performing a similar gesture after scoring a last-minute winner for Real Madrid against Barcelona last season. On that occasion, he did not face an investigation.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a comparable crude gesture during his penalty shootout heroics in the 2022 World Cup final and he escaped with a fine.
UEFA have already banned one player at Euro 2024, though. Albanian forward Mirlind Daku was suspended for two matches after leading fans in chants of ‘f*** Macedonia’ and ‘f*** Serbs’ while holding a megaphone in the aftermath of his team’s 2-2 draw with Croatia in the group stages.
The governing body issued a statement to explain their decision which confirmed Daku had been banned ‘for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature, and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute’.
They are now conducting a separate investigation into the goal celebration of Turkey defender Merih Demiral.
The 26-year-old scored twice in Turkey’s 2-1 win against Austria on Tuesday, and allegedly performed a ‘wolf’s salute’ linked to the Grey Wolves – a far-right extremist group in Turkey.
UEFA handed Mirlind Daku a two-match ban for leading chants including ‘f*** Serbs’
Turkey defender Merih Demiral is under investigation by UEFA and could face a suspension for allegedly performing a gesture linked to far-right extremist group Grey Wolves
The Grey Wolves, officially called Ulku Ocaklari, is the youth movement of the Nationalist Movement Party – which is in coalition with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.
The probe is currently ongoing, and it remains unclear over whether Demiral will be hit with a ban for Turkey’s quarter-final with the Netherlands on Saturday.
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