Jude Bellingham is being investigated by UEFA after he appeared to make a lewd gesture towards the Slovakia bench following his overhead-kick equalising goal for England.Despite previously indicating to The Athletic that Bellingham would not be expected to face any punishment for his actions, UEFA released a statement later on Monday which said that the 21-year-old will be investigated “regarding a potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct”. It remains to be seen whether this will result in disciplinary action. This article has been updated to reflect UEFA’s statement.Bellingham scored a last-minute equaliser to force the game into extra time, with Harry Kane then netting the winning goal to set up a quarter-final tie against Switzerland on Saturday.Bellingham appeared to follow his 95th-minute strike in Gelsenkirchen by making a lewd gesture in the direction of Slovakia’s bench.According to the laws of the game, any “obscene gesture” or “offensive or insulting action” should be punishable by a red card.Bellingham later claimed on social media that it was an “inside joke gesture” towards his close friends who were at the game. “Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,” he added.
Declan Rice, meanwhile, set to avoid any retrospective action for his post-match altercation with Francesco Calzona, the Slovakia manager.Rice was pushed in the chest by Calzona after the Slovakia boss approached Umat Meler, the referee, at full-time.Rice appeared ready to shake Calzona’s hand but reacted when the opposition manager shoved him and the Arsenal midfielder looked as though he was going to push him back. Ivan Toney then led Rice away as another member of the opposition’s coaching staff confronted him. Aaron Ramsdale, England’s second-choice goalkeeper, also arrived on the scene to defuse the situation.UEFA’s statement about the Bellingham investigation also confirmed that the English FA has been charged with a “lack of order or discipline by supporters” and the “lighting of fireworks” during the Slovakia win.
