ENGLAND saviour Jude Bellingham could escape with a fine over his groin-grab goal celebrations – thanks to footage from an El Clasico.
The FA will argue that the ace pulled a similar gesture after hitting the back of the net in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Barcelona in April – proving Sunday’s display was not a dig aimed at the Slovakian team.
Bellingham faced a ban over claims the antics after his 95th-minute bicycle-kick equaliser were directed at the rival bench.
He has vowed it was a private joke with pals and the Slovakian team are not demanding charges.
That means he will be hit with a five-figure fine, leaving him free to play in the rest of the tournament, according to German newspaper Bild.
Fans hope footage from El Clasico – the name for any clash between the top-flight Spanish teams – will help clear him.
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Factory worker Ryan Walker, 32, of Birmingham, said: “There’s no way he should be banned.”
Ex-Arsenal hero Paul Merson added: “It was just a release – I don’t see much wrong with it myself.”
The Three Lions face Switzerland in tomorrow’s quarter-final in Dusseldorf.
Bellingham wouldn’t be the first star to face a financial penalty over a pitch gesture.
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In 2019, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was fined £17,000 for a similar one during his side’s 2-0 win over Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo was later told to pay 20,000 euros for mimicking it.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
