According to talkSPORT, Jude Bellingham’s third career red card might lead to serious consequences. The England midfielder was issued his second sending off while playing for Real Madrid during a 1-1 LaLiga match against Osasuna on Saturday night. While the specifics of the incident are still disputed, it might lead to significant consequences for him. In the 39th minute of the game, Bellingham was observed speaking with referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero, who unexpectedly issued a red card, startling both the midfielder and his teammates. In his match report, the referee clarified that the card was given because Bellingham confronted him just a short distance away with the words: ‘F*** you’. If the complaint is sustained, Bellingham may face a severe suspension, given the regulations set by the Spanish Football Federation. According to AS, Article 94 of the Disciplinary Code of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) outlines that “insulting, offending, or using offensive language or behavior towards the main referee, assistants, fourth official, officials, or sports authorities, unless it qualifies as a more serious infraction, can result in a suspension lasting from four to 12 matches.” If the insult is considered to be merely an “attitude of contempt or disrespect without it being a more serious offense,” Bellingham might only face a suspension of two to three games. Match broadcasters Movistar+ aired a close-up of the incident, translating Bellingham’s remarks as: “I’m speaking to you respectfully,” followed by “F*** off” when he noticed Munuera Montero pulling out a yellow card. After the match, Bellingham clarified to the media in English: “It’s clear he made an error and there was a misunderstanding. I remember the event vividly, but the video footage doesn’t align with the report. I don’t want to delve too deeply into the specifics of the incident, but it’s more like an expression such as ‘Joder’ (which translates to f*** in Spanish), and it’s challenging for a referee who is unsure to discern what I’ve actually said, especially when it affects the team’s outcome.”
