Jude Bellingham (21) of Real Madrid received a two-match suspension from La Liga on Wednesday, following a dismissal for dissent by the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee.
The England international was shown a red card by referee Jose Munuera Montero during the champions’ 1-1 stalemate against Osasuna on Saturday.
Bellingham, who maintained that he was merely voicing his frustration rather than disrespecting the referee, will be sidelined for league fixtures against Girona and Real Betis on February 23 and March 2, respectively.
The committee ruled that Madrid’s efforts to prove Bellingham’s innocence were “insufficient” to overturn “the presumption of accuracy of the referee’s report”.
Bellingham claimed that his sending-off stemmed from a misunderstanding.
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“I wasn’t even directing my comments at the referee, but it seems there was a misinterpretation. He’s thought I said something offensive to him.”
A source from Real Madrid informed AFP that the club intends to contest the decision.
Since the incident, referee Munuera Montero has faced a wave of online abuse and threats, which the federation has condemned as “appalling”.
In recent weeks, Real Madrid has heavily critiqued Spanish officiating, describing it as “manipulated” in a letter directed to the federation that was subsequently published on their website.
After failing to secure a victory in their last three league encounters, Los Blancos now find themselves trailing their rivals Barcelona, who lead the table on goal difference.
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