Euro 2024 chiefs' expected punishment for Jude Bellingham revealed ahead of England and Switzerland clash
Euro 2024 chiefs are expected to fine Jude Bellingham as England's clash with Switzerland looms
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UEFA aren't expected to ban Jude Bellingham and Euro 2024 chiefs are 'unlikely to rush through a decision' ahead of England's clash with Switzerland on Saturday, reports say.
The Real Madrid star has found himself in the spotlight ever since the Three Lions' dramatic 2-1 win over Slovakia last week.
In the aftermath of that game, Bellingham was filmed gesturing towards his crotch.
The 21-year-old immediately took to social media to stress it was an 'inside joke', while also denying it was aimed at the Slovakia bench.
Euro 2024 chiefs are expected to fine Jude Bellingham as England's clash with Switzerland looms
PA
There are fears Bellingham could be banned for England's quarter-final clash with Switzerland on Saturday.
According to the Evening Standard, however, a fine is his likeliest punishment - despite fears of a suspension.
Diego Simeone and Cristiano Ronaldo were both fined by UEFA back in 2019 after performing similar gestures.
Simeone made a 'cojones' movement after Atletico Madrid beat Juventus 2-0, with Ronaldo then mimicking the Argentine in the reverse fixture.
The report says UEFA are 'unlikely to rush through a decision' ahead of the match between England and Switzerland, too.
An 'ethics and disciplinary inspector' has been put on the case - and investigations of that kind 'typically take time'.
It's also said the Bellingham case is a 'complicated' one.
There is a grey area over what an 'obscene gesture' actually is, with Bellingham adamant it was an 'inside joke' between himself and close friends.
And UEFA may find it difficult to prove the England star aimed it at the Slovakia bench, too.
England will be hoping to have Bellingham available on Saturday as they look to make the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
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They have been unconvincing at the tournament in Germany, though remain unbeaten.
England beat Serbia 1-0 in their opening match, with Bellingham scoring the only goal of the game.
They then followed up that result with disappointing draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
Against Slovakia on Sunday, England were uninspiring once more.
They seemed to be heading for defeat after a goal from Ivan Schranz, with the forward netting in the 25th minute.
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Euro 2024 chiefs aren't in a hurry to punish Jude Bellingham as England prepare for Switzerland clash
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A Bellingham wondergoal forced extra-time, however, with England then going through courtesy of a thunderbolt header from Harry Kane.
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, meanwhile, has criticised Bellingham.
The ex-Germany star feels the England youngster must behave himself and stop 'believing in his own fairy tales'.
He said: "Bellingham is starting to believe his own fairy tales, he needs to be careful: I think there is definitely a danger that Jude Bellingham is starting to believe his own fairy tales.
“There was his celebration and then when he walked past the Slovakia bench, he did something that offended them.
Jude Bellingham has scored two goals for England at Euro 2024 ahead of Saturday's showdown with Switzerland
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"He said afterwards that it was a private joke aimed at his friends who were sitting near them.
"I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I think he’s got to be careful because in the first game, he ran into Kostić after he won the tackle, and he was lucky not to get booked for that.
“He’s got to leave them things out because there’s always someone bigger than you and the other players will watch his antics.
"I think he’s got to be very careful because the one thing you shouldn’t do is disrespect your opponents.
"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.”
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