In a dramatic La Liga match on Saturday, Real Madrid’s star midfielder Jude Bellingham was shown a red card during their 1-1 draw against Osasuna. The incident occurred in the 40th minute when Bellingham protested a refereeing decision, using explicit language while gesturing with his arms. Referee José Luis Munuera took offense and sent him off after a heated exchange.
Bellingham, the England international, clarified after the match that his words were not directed at the referee. He explained, “It’s clear there was a misunderstanding. I used an expression I’ve been saying since I was 16 or 17, but it wasn’t meant to insult the referee. I would never act irresponsibly to leave my team with 10 players.”
However, Munuera’s report stated that Bellingham told him, “F*** you,” which led to the dismissal. Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his player, claiming there was a translation error. Ancelotti said, “Bellingham didn’t deserve a red card. He said ‘F*** off,’ not ‘F*** you.’ It wasn’t meant to be offensive.”
Earlier in the game, Ancelotti himself received a yellow card for arguing with the referee over a potential handball by an Osasuna defender in the penalty area, which went unpunished. At the time of Bellingham’s sending-off, Real Madrid were leading 1-0 from a goal by Kylian Mbappé.
This isn’t the first time Real Madrid has been unhappy with refereeing decisions. Just two rounds ago, they complained about officiating in a loss to Espanyol, claiming the referees favored their opponents. Real Madrid officials are moving to appeal for the red card.
The incident has sparked debate, with fans and pundits questioning whether the red card was justified or if it was a case of miscommunication. Bellingham’s frustration and the referee’s interpretation of his words have become the talking point of the match, causing the 1-1 result.
Miscommunication or Misconduct? : Bellingham Sees Red in Real Madrid’s Draw
