PAMPLONA, Spain — Jude Bellingham received a red card during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Osasuna after using strong language to express his disagreement with the referee’s decisions on Saturday.
Referee José Luis Munuera issued the card to the England midfielder in the 40th minute of the La Liga match, following Bellingham’s protests regarding a decision while he gestured animatedly. After exchanging words, Munuera opted to send him off the pitch.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti supported Bellingham, asserting that the referee misinterpreted the player’s choice of words, claiming it was a case of mistranslation of the expletive used by the player.
“Bellingham didn’t say anything that warranted a red card,” Ancelotti stated. “He said ‘(expletive) off,’ not ‘(expletive) you.’ I do not believe this was intended as an offense.” The referee’s report, however, stated that Bellingham directed the phrase “(expletive) you” at him.
Following Ancelotti’s defense, Bellingham addressed the situation, emphasizing he did not wish to delve into specifics but clarified that his comment was not directed maliciously at the referee.
“Clearly, a mistake occurred, and there was a misunderstanding,” Bellingham elaborated. “I want to reassure my teammates that I would never act irresponsibly to leave them in a tough position with just ten players. However, being in this situation gives the impression that I did.”
The 21-year-old midfielder, who has stepped up as a leading figure for Madrid, conveyed that the language he used on the field was typical and wasn’t meant to offend.
“On the pitch, emotions can run high, but I was calm in my interaction with him,” Bellingham commented. “You can verify it via video and by reading my lips. I’ve used that expression since I was 16 or 17; it’s part of my way of communicating.”
This incident marks not the first time Bellingham has faced consequences for his words in Spain. Last season, he received a two-match suspension for using a similar expletive during a match against Valencia after a disputed referee decision.
As a result of the red card, Bellingham will at least miss the next fixture against Girona.
Interestingly, Ancelotti also found himself booked during the match; he received a yellow card for arguing with the referee regarding an apparent handball by an Osasuna player in their penalty area that went unpunished.
At the time of Bellingham’s dismissal, Real Madrid was leading 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Kylian Mbappé. However, Ante Budimir equalized for Osasuna with a penalty kick in the second half.
Just two matches prior, Madrid had vocally criticized officiating after claiming that referee decisions had unfairly benefited Espanyol in a loss.
