After the dramatic final whistle in Valencia, Jude Bellingham was shown the red card. Real Madrid now know the punishment for their key player
There have been some lucky breaks for Real Madrid in recent months, such as when three tricky VAR interventions in the league game against Almeria all went in the Whites’ favor or when they avoided conceding a fairly regular goal in the Champions League round of 16 first leg against RB Leipzig.
On the last league matchday, however, the Spanish league leaders were hit twice, as referee Jesus Gil Manzano blew the whistle to stop the Blancos’ game at Valencia FC in the middle of Jude Bellingham’s supposed winning goal. On the one hand, this meant that the game at the Mestalla ended 2:2, not 3:2 for Real. On the other hand, Bellingham was so angry about Gil Manzano’s decision afterwards that he was shown the red card
The penalty for the outstanding performance of the new signing was announced by the Spanish Football Federation RFEF on Wednesday afternoon. Bellingham will miss two matches – not the second leg of the Premier League tie against Leipzig on Wednesday evening, but the league games against Celta Vigo next Sunday and Osasuna on March 16.
Did Bellingham insult Gil Manzano at all?
So far at least in this instance. According to Spanish media reports, Real Madrid will appeal and try to reduce the sentence to just a one-match ban. It would not be the first time that such an appeal has been successful in Spain.
The royal outrage is also understandable in the case of the sending off. The agitated Bellingham had stormed towards Gil Manzano at speed, but had apparently only shouted “it’s a fucking goal” – and had not insulted the referee.
