The Spanish FA (RFEF) announced on Wednesday that Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will serve a two-match ban for verbally abusing a referee during Saturday’s 1-1 LaLiga draw at Osasuna.
Referee Jose Munuera Montero threw off Bellingham, 21, for allegedly abusing him. Although Bellingham and his coach Carlo Ancelotti said the official was wrong, the RFEF Disciplinary Committee punished him for “attitudes of contempt or lack of consideration towards referees”.
Bellingham will be appealed to for LaLiga games against Girona and Betis by Real Madrid. Saturday’s incident generated an odd Spanish media debate regarding English profanity translation and cultural perception.
Real Madrid’s letter of complaint against LaLiga’s referees after several unfair calls sparked a feud with the country’s soccer authorities.
