Real lose appeal over Bellingham ban for swearing

Real Madrid’s request to appeal the two-game suspension Jude Bellingham received for swearing at a referee has been dropped.

During the first half of his team’s 1-1 La Liga draw against Osasuna on February 15, the England international received a straight red card.

Bellingham had allegedly said “f*** you,” according to Referee Jose Munuera Montero in his match report. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) issued a two-match ban because the 21-year-old displayed “contemptuous or inconsiderate attitudes towards referees, officials or sports authorities”.

Bellingham claimed after the game that he had made an “expression to myself” rather than insulted the referee.

Real told the RFEF’s appeals committee Bellingham had said “f** off” rather than “f** you”.

He will now miss his team’s Sunday league game against Girona and their trip to Seville to face Real Betis on March 2.

After collecting a third booking of the European campaign in the defeat of Manchester City on Wednesday, Bellingham will not play in Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16 game against Atletico Madrid.

This week, the RFEF condemned the “repulsive” abuse suffered by Montero after the incident, with the referee and his family receiving abuse on social media.

Earlier this month, Real sent a formal letter of complaint to the Spanish FA and Spain’s High Council for Sports in which they claimed match officials are biased against them, “rigged”, and “completely discredited”.

Real argued Espanyol defender Carlos Romero should have been sent off before scoring a late winner in Carlo Ancelotti’s men’s 1-0 defeat to Espanyol.

On Friday, the RFEF launched a campaign calling for respect for officials. The slogan “Respect the referee, respect football” will be displayed during Spain’s Uefa Women’s Nations League match against Belgium on Friday, as well as all La Liga and second division men’s fixtures over the weekend.

During a press conference on Friday, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick brought up Real Madrid’s criticism of referees unprompted.

“The referees at the moment, what they] Real Madrid] are doing here in Spain with them is unbelievable”, said the German.

“Everyone makes mistakes, and you have to take into account the families of the referees,” said the coach. “It’s up to the coaches and the players to protect them if something happens in a game.”