Englandโs Jude Bellingham during the Euro 2024 match against Slovakia on June 30, 2024
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Jude Bellingham has avoided an immediate ban after the England midfielder appeared to make an offensive gesture in his team’s win over Slovakia.
Bellingham will be available for England’s game against Switzerland on Saturday for a place in the semifinals after UEFA on Friday imposed a one-game ban but said it โis not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary periodโ of a year.
The Real Madrid midfielder will have to pay a fine of โฌ30,000 ($32,500).
UEFA said the punishment was โfor violating the basic rules of decent conductโ in the Slovakia game.
Bellingham seemed to make a gesture with his hand toward his crotch after scoring an overhead kick to level the score Sunday as England went on to win 2-1 in extra time.
Bellinghamโs goal with about 80 seconds left in the game saved England from a humiliating exit in the first knockout round.
Bellingham previously denied suggestions he gestured toward the Slovakia bench.
โAn inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,โ Bellingham wrote on X.
UEFA also fined England a total of โฌ11,000 ($11,900) for crowd disturbances and the โlighting of fireworksโ at the Slovakia game.
