Bellingham avoids immediate ban at Euro 2024 for offensive gesture but gets fined
England's Jude Bellingham warms up during a training session in Blankenhain, Germany, Wednesday, July 3, 2024 ahead of the quarter final round match against Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Thanassis Stavrakis]
DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Jude Bellingham has avoided an immediate ban after the England midfielder appeared to make an offensive gesture in his team’s win over Slovakia. Bellingham will be available for England’s game against Switzerland on Saturday for a place in the semifinals after UEFA imposed a one-game ban but said it “is not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary period” of a year. Bellingham seemed to make a gesture with his hand toward his crotch after scoring an overhead kick to level the score Sunday as England went on to win 2-1 in extra time. The Real Madrid midfielder will have to pay a fine of 30,000 euros.
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EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY - England's Jude Bellingham gestures after scoring his side's first goal during a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Bellingham is being investigated by UEFA over a potentially offensive gesture made during a European Championship win against Slovakia. . (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Thanassis Stavrakis