Bellingham is suspended for one game for obscene gesture

England superstar Jude Bellingham has been fined and given a one-match suspended ban after making an obscene gesture during the Three Lions’ victory over Slovakia.

Bellingham was given a one-match suspended ban for a rule violation during a match at the 2024 European Championships – but he is unlikely to miss a minute of play for England.

The 21-year-old was fined €30,000 (£25,000) and given a one-match suspended ban after making a gesture that resulted in him being grabbed in the crotch during England’s win over Slovakia in the last 16. UEFA launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred after Bellingham scored the 95th-minute equaliser that forced the match into extra time.

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UEFA subsequently ruled in a statement released on Friday that the midfielder had breached “the basic rules of good behaviour”. The one-match ban will be suspended for a year, meaning Bellingham will be allowed to play in Saturday’s decisive quarter-final against Switzerland and will only miss a UEFA match for England if he breaches any of the rules of conduct within the next 12 months.

UEFA subsequently ruled in a statement released on Friday that the midfielder had breached “the basic rules of good behaviour”. The one-match ban will be suspended for a year, meaning Bellingham will be allowed to play in Saturday’s decisive quarter-final against Switzerland and will only miss a UEFA match for England if he breaches any of the rules of conduct within the next 12 months.

Despite the controversy, Bellingham is expected to be included in Gareth Southgate’s lineup on Saturday amid reports that the former Middlesbrough manager wants to test a new formation.

England have not performed convincingly in Germany so far, leading to calls from fans for some of their underperforming stars such as Bellingham, Phil Foden, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka to be dropped from the squad.

If Bellingham can keep his nerve at this stage, he will not miss a minute of the Three Lions’ game. The Real Madrid superstar claimed on social media that the gesture was “an inside joke towards some close friends who were at the game”. He added that he had “nothing but respect for the performance of the Slovakian team”.