England's Bellingham Faces Potential Ten-Game Ban Over Alleged Slur

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Incident in La Liga Match Sparks Controversy

During a recent La Liga encounter, Jude Bellingham, the England and Real Madrid midfielder, could be hit with a significant suspension following an alleged offensive remark directed at Mason Greenwood. The clash in question saw Bellingham’s Real Madrid go up against Getafe, leading to an official complaint by the latter club.

La Liga Takes Action

The complaint has prompted La Liga to escalate the matter to the Spanish football federation’s competition committee. The committee is poised to assign a judge to examine the allegations and determine Bellingham’s fate, with a decision expected within a fortnight.

Possible Outcomes for Bellingham

If the investigation finds Bellingham guilty and classifies the incident as ‘serious’, the midfielder could be looking at a four-match ban. However, should the offense be deemed ‘grave’, the punishment could extend to a ten-match suspension. Both Real Madrid and Getafe will have a ten-day period to lodge any appeals against the decision.

Getafe and Real Madrid at Odds

While Getafe stands firm in their belief that Bellingham used derogatory language towards Greenwood, Real Madrid maintains that the evidence is not definitive. The involvement of the football federation has also raised eyebrows at the 14-time European Cup winners, given La Liga’s traditional policy of not acting on incidents overlooked by match officials.

Unwritten Rules Challenged

The case has caused a stir in Spain, challenging the unofficial rule in La Liga that suggests incidents missed by referees are typically disregarded. This principle implies that if an incident is not caught during the match, it is usually ignored.

La Liga’s Response to Allegations

La Liga addressed the allegations, stating that post-match social media activity hinted at a potential insult by Bellingham towards Greenwood. The league confirmed that the incident had been widely reported by the media and included in their incident report.

Bellingham’s Current Status

Currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained in Real Madrid’s recent 4-0 victory over Girona, Bellingham’s start to his Madrid career has been impressive. Since his £88 million move from Borussia Dortmund, the young star has scored 20 goals in 29 appearances, marking a sensational impact in the Spanish capital.