Jude Bellingham is at risk of punishment from UEFA over a gesture he made following his overhead-kick equalising goal for England against Slovakia.The midfielder appeared to follow his 95th-minute goal in Gelsenkirchen by making a lewd gesture in the direction of the opposition bench.The 21-year-old later claimed on social media his signal was instead an “inside joke” to friends watching. But he could be subject to disciplinary action from European football’s governing body.The laws of the game indicate any “obscene gesture” or “offensive or insulting action” should be punishable by a red card.UEFA’s disciplinary body will await reports from the match referee and other officials before deciding on any possible action.“An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game,” Bellingham responded on X, formerly Twitter, after claims he was gesturing towards the Slovakian coaching staff and substitutes.“Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,” he continued.
Bellingham has already been punished for behaviour on the pitch this season while playing for his club side, Real Madrid.In March, Bellingham was sent off for arguing with referee Jesus Gil Manzano, after he saw what would have been a game-winning header ruled out.He was then hit with an additional two-match La Liga ban, due to his “contemptuous or disrespectful attitude towards a referee”.Cristiano Ronaldo was fined but avoided a suspension after being charged with improper conduct following a celebration made against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in 2019.The Portugal international was banned for one game earlier this year by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation after a similar gesture while playing for Al Nassr.England booked their place in the tournament quarter-finals after Bellingham’s equaliser was followed by a Harry Kane headed winner in extra-time.They will now face Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday in the last eight.
