Soccer-England's Bellingham investigated after crotch gesture
By Andrew Cawthorne
HAMBURG, Germany, July 1 (Reuters) -UEFA is to investigate England midfielder Jude Bellingham for potential indecent conduct after he was seen grabbing his crotch while looking at the crowd following a last-16 victory over Slovakia at Euro 2024.
Bellingham, 21, scored an astonishing 95th-minute equaliser to push the game into extra time, gesturing after his goal at England fans who had been critical, then making the crotch gesture following the final whistle with the game won 2-1.
"An UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct by the English Football Association player, Jude Bellingham, having allegedly occurred in the scope of this match," UEFA said in a statement on Monday.
While Bellingham's aggressive goal celebration was clearly an angry message to England fans, the crotch gesture was viewed by some spectators as an insult to Slovakia.
Bellingham, however, said on social media that he was having a laugh with friends.
"An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight," he said.
There was no immediate reaction from Bellingham or the English Football Association to UEFA's statement.
The Real Madrid player has been showered with praise in the past for his maturity, but acknowledged after the Slovakia game that he felt an explosion of emotion after his bicycle-kick goal, given days of heavy criticism of England on social media.
"People talk a lot of rubbish and it's nice that, when you deliver, you can give them a little bit back," he told reporters shortly after the game in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
He was walking alongside captain and fellow goalscorer Harry Kane when he kissed his hand and lowered it to his groin, according to footage of the players at the end of the game.
UEFA also said it was charging England's FA for their fans' lighting of fireworks and other disorder.
European football's body has an array of possible sanctions at its disposal from fines to suspensions. Albania's Mirlind Daku was banned for two games after leading fans in offensive chants.
England, who have put in strangely tepid and disjointed displays despite being among the pre-tournament favourite, face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne, Editing by Ed Osmond
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
