New Delhi: The best news for Gareth Southgate and Jude Bellingham’s fans in the UEFA Euro 2024 is that the 21-year-old will be in England’s match against Switzerland. However, the Real Madrid midfielder was fined €30,000 and a suspended one-match ban, which will not take immediate effect and will subjected to a one-year probation period.
After scoring a goal to level the score against Slovakia, Jude Bellingham made an obscene gesture towards his opponents’ dugout. Later, on his social media, he apologized for his on-field behaviour and said the gesture was a joke meant only for him and his friends.
A few days later, the football board banned Turkish player Merih Demiral for two games on Friday after a controversial hand gesture at the European Championship. This incident led to a diplomatic row between Turkey and the host nation, Germany. Both the Turkish Football Federation and the Turkish government have condemned the decision but have noted that it cannot be appealed as it is under the three-game threshold.
After Demiral scored the second and match-winning goal against Austria, he celebrated with a gesture known as the “wolf salute.” In many countries, it is banned as it is associated with fascist symbols. The gesture is used by Turkish nationalists, popularly known as the Gray Wolves.
Demiral’s gesture was far more controversial as it broke four UEFA rules: “General principles of conduct,” “Violation of basic rules of decent conduct,” “Using a sports event for manifestations of unsporting character,” and “Damaging the reputation of football as a sport.”
So Bellingham will feature against Switzerland in Dusseldorf, while the 26-year-old defender will sit out against his side’s game against Netherlands. If Turkey qualifies for the semi-finals, Demiral must miss that game. England won 2-1 against Slovakia to make their fifth quarter-final appearance, whilst Turkey won 2-1 over Austria for their third appearance in this stage of knockouts.
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