Jude Bellingham CLEARED to face Switzerland in huge England Euro 2024 boost but still gets suspended ban over gesture
JUDE BELLINGHAM has been cleared to play against Switzerland by Uefa.
But the Three Lions ace has been hit with a massive fine and a suspended one game BAN.
England’s hero was the subject of an investigation by Uefa over a gesture he made after scoring in Sunday’s 2-1 Euros win over Slovakia.
Bellingham, 21, appeared to feign grabbing his crotch in a move that signalled he has what it takes in a crisis.
Match officials made no mention of the gesture in their match reports but Uefa still intervened.
However, Bellingham has now been cleared of any wrongdoing and is set to line up against Switzerland.
The England star has been slapped with a £25,000 fine and a one-match ban, suspended for 12 months.
The Real Madrid star defended his controversial gesture, stating it was aimed at close friends at the game and not towards the opposition.
He added: “Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”
Piers Morgan also leapt to Bellingham’s defence by outlining ten reasons why he may have made the gesture.
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England's five-point penalty shootout plan
EXPERT football psychologist Professor Geir Jordet has told Gareth Southgate and his players what they can do to give themselves the best chance of victory in any shootouts.
And he has even thrown in a rogue, bold suggestion for the Three Lions manager…
1. START PLANNING LAST YEAR
“It’s about planning for the opposition’s penalty takers but also ‘how do we win the psychological game against each opponent?’
2. SMART SOUTHGATE LEADERSHIP
“Southgate will have two minutes to influence his players as effectively as possible, show he has a plan and get confidence across.”
3. DICTATE AS A TEAM
“A shootout is really a team performance. Have the goalkeeper walk with the penalty taker into the penalty area to basically create a two-versus-one against the other goalkeeper. Dominate the centre circle, support the players who missed.”
4. ‘BULLETPROOF’ INDIVIDUAL ROUTINES
“Have really good, individualised and rehearsed pre-shot routines that are bulletproof and polished so they’re more likely to be able to resist the stress and more likely to score.”
5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT
“Practise the shot itself, trying to simulate penalty shootouts in training. Even recreating 20 per cent of a Euros final penalty shootout is going to have a benefit for your performance.”
AND A JOR DROPPING IDEA…
Jordan Pickford is the No1 but Dean Henderson actually has a far better penalty record – saving 8/22 (36 per cent) compared to Pickford’s 8/62 (13 per cent).
Jordet said: “One could consider making a late substitution for a penalty shootout. I doubt that they dare to do it in case it fails and the pressure is even higher but it would be a very ballsy move.”
One reason may be Bellingham wanted to show he had “massive cojones” after rescuing the Three Lions from the brink of elimination with his last-minute overhead kick.
He even made the exact same gesture when he netted a late winner in Real Madrid’s 3-2 El Clasico victory against Barcelona in April.
Uefa outlined the results of their investigation on Friday morning.
And they handed Bellingham a £25k fine, as well as a suspended one-match ban, for “violating the basic rules of decent conduct.”
The FA were also punished for crowd disturbances and the lighting of fireworks, receiving a £9,000 fine.
A Uefa statement read: “The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has decided to fine the English Football Association €10,000 for crowd disturbances.
“(It has also decided) To fine the English Football Association €1,000 for lighting of fireworks.
“And to fine the English Football Association player Jude Bellingham €30,000 and to suspend him for a total of one UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible for violating the basic rules of decent conduct.
“Said suspension is not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision.”
Bellingham isn’t the only player to foul fall of Uefa today.
Turkey goal hero Merih Demiral has been banned for two matches for his controversial ‘Grey Wolf’ celebration against Austria.
The symbol is linked with the far right in his country.
And after scoring both goals in Turkey’s 2-1 win in the last 16, he will now miss the quarter-final against Holland — and the semis if his side make it that far.
A Uefa statement added: “The UEFA Appeals Body has decided to suspend Turkish Football Federation player Merih Demiral, for a total of two (2) UEFA representative team competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible, for failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.”
Crimes and punishments
Other players have had the book thrown at them for making crude gestures. Here's a list of some of the most famous offenders...
Dele Alli was banned for one match by Fifa and fined £3,500 for raising his middle finger in a World Cup qualifier against… SLOVAKIA… in 2017. He claimed it was just a friendly joke aimed at Kyle Walker.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone was slapped with a £17,000 fine for improper conduct for his bizarre crotch-grabbing celebration against Juventus in a Champions League first leg tie in 2019.
Then-Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo then repeated the act when he scored against Atletico in the return leg and was hit with an identical fine. He escaped a ban though.
Montpellier coach Rene Girard was hit with a one-match European ban and fined £4,000 for raising his finger to opposite number Huub Stevens at the end of a 2012 Champions League clash against Schalke 04.