England football fans banned from watching Jude Bellingham as statement released
Jude Bellingham: England football fans won't be able to watch Real Madrid star against Barcelona
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La Liga have admitted they're 'disappointed' football fans in Britain won't be able to watch Jude Bellingham in action this weekend.
The 20-year-old is the talk of world football having scored 11 goals for Real Madrid since his summer arrival.
He is set to play a key role at the weekend after manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he wasn't injured after a minor scare against Braga on Wednesday.
However, due to the football blackout in Britain, fans on these shores won't be able to watch him in action.
Jude Bellingham has scored 11 goals for Real Madrid since joining back in the summer
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The match is set to kick off at 3.15pm.
However, due to the blackout, Viaplay won't be able to screen the match despite many supporters being eager to tune in.
The blackout - which is enforced from 2.45pm to 5.15pm - was introduced back in the 1960s.
That was in order to protect Premier League attendances - and top-flight clubs have already agreed to keep it in place until 2029 at the earliest.
And La Liga, per The Sun, have now admitted they're disappointed the match can't be shown.
LaLiga's UK and Ireland MD Keegan Pierce said: “We’re disappointed that British fans cannot watch El Clasico this weekend due to the UK’s self-imposed Saturday 3pm rule.”
He added: “While we fully support measures to promote attendance, we believe the blackout should be limited to the televising of domestic football, not overseas competitions.”
Bellingham has been outstanding in the short time since his move to Real.
The 20-year-old arrived having turned down Liverpool and Manchester City in order to strut his stuff at the Bernabeu.
And Bellingham hasn't looked back in the time since.
With 11 goals to his name he's established himself as Real's best player so far this season.
Fans are so obsessed with Bellingham that seven out of every 10 personalised shirts sold by the club has his name emblazoned on the back.
And TNT Sports pundit Raphael Honigstein was full of praise for the youngster after his fine display against Braga in the Champions League on Tuesday.
“Tonight Vinicius Jr was perhaps, if you want to single out a single player, more influential,” he said.
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“But Jude, not just because of the goal but also his all-round play, being that reference point so often that is not really there in this team without a recognised centre-forward.
“They play with two wide forwards and then Bellingham just behind so in a nine-and-a-half position, sometimes he is the No 10, sometimes is the furthest player forward in a real No 10 role, and that makes the attack very hard to defend, especially on the break.
“I don't think there's a ceiling for this kid. He's a freak.”
Real and Barcelona met five times last season.
Barcelona won 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup, while also securing a 1-0 victory over their rivals in the Copa del Rey.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Jude Bellingham is fit for Barcelona showdown
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They also won 2-1 when they met in La Liga back in March.
Los Blancos recorded victories of their own, too.
They beat Barcelona 4-0 in the Copa del Rey, while also winning 3-1 when they went to war in La Liga a year ago.
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