REAL MADRID are reportedly set to use the “Mason Greenwood defence” to appeal Jude Bellingham’s red card at Valencia.
Los Blancos were trailing 2-0 at the Mestalla on Saturday before launching a comeback.
A brace from Vinicius brought them level before his England star team-mate was involved in LaLiga’s biggest controversy in years.
The 20-year-old was dismissed after the final whistle of a 2-2 draw at Valencia after being denied a match-winning goal.
Bellingham thought he had headed a winner deep into stoppage time.
However, ref Jesus Gil Manzano blew the final whistle as the ball was in the air from Brahim Diaz’s cross.
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That led to a furious reaction from Madrid and Bellingham, who boss Carlo Ancelotti claimed told the official “it was a f***ing goal” before being shown the red.
Madrid have appealed their 20-goal top scorer’s three-match ban as a result of the red.
The LaLiga leaders are allegedly confident the red card will be rescinded – just like his compatriot Greenwood’s was earlier in the campaign, according to the Daily Mail.
The 22-year-old forward, on-loan at Getafe from Manchester United, was one of three members of his side to be sent-off against Rayo Vallecano in January.
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Greenwood was sent-off for dissent but that decision was rescinded after an appeal.
That was after it was shown that he had said “f***sake” in frustration at not being awarded a foul rather than directing the expletive at the official.
The Spanish FA, the RFEF, said in a statement after the appeal: “The task of this disciplinary body is not to re-referee the matches, without determining, where appropriate, the existence of a manifest material error in the referee’s description of the action.
“As has been said here, only proof of an error of this type can distort the assessment made by the referee and, consequently, the veracity of what was recorded in the minutes.
“The repeated viewing of the images, in fact, has allowed this Committee to conclude, beyond any doubt, that the action that led to the expulsion did not occur as described by the referee and, ultimately, prove the material error manifest in the referee’s report.
“These images demonstrate that the player actually said ‘One, two, three, four, f***.’”
Meanwhile, Bellingham was hailed as “a class act” after the controversy when fans spotted what he did for a group of kids.
A clip from inside the ground showed him greeting a group of excitable youngsters waiting to meet their hero.
The Three Lions ace smiled for selfies and signed autographs for everyone waiting despite his anger just moments before.
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That included a photo with four kids at the end – two of whom recreated his famous celebration with their arms out wide.
Bellingham, decked out in his Madrid tracksuit and backwards cap, was happy to smile and engage with the adoring fans before heading out of the stadium.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
