In the UEFA Euro round of 16 match, Bellingham scored a dramatic late overhead kick equalizer, helping England overturn the game to win 2-1 against Slovakia. After his goal, Bellingham seemingly made an indecent celebratory gesture, sparking controversy.
Bellingham appeared to make a gesture towards his groin, with some suggesting it was directed at the Slovakian bench. The player denied the allegations, stating, “It was just a joke between me and a few close friends watching the game. I have nothing but respect for Slovakia tonight.”
Despite Bellingham’s claims of innocence, he now faces an investigation by UEFA and could be suspended for Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland.
However, there are now reports that Bellingham has made similar celebrations before, suggesting it is indeed a jest among friends rather than a spontaneous provocation. He also made the exact same gesture after scoring the winning goal for Real Madrid in El Clásico. He hopes this will be enough for UEFA to clear him of any wrongdoing.