Jude Bellingham has been handed a two-match suspension for his comments aimed at the referee during Real Madrid's draw with Osasuna on Saturday.
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Bellingham sent off for swearing at refereeStar denies he insulted the officialHas been suspended for next two La Liga matchesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The England international was shown a straight red card in the first half of the 1-1 draw in La Liga following remarks he made to referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero. The official wrote that Bellingham said "f*ck you" to him, though the midfielder denied insulting him. Now, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has hit Bellingham with a two-game ban as punishment for his "disdainful attitude" towards Munuera Montero.
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Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti backed up his player's claim that the red card was merely down to a misunderstanding and the Spanish side provided video evidence to support the argument. Madrid initially asked for the card to be overturned, reports, but the Disciplinary Committee opted for a significantly shorter ban than they could have handed out.
"Taking into account the different factual circumstances invoked, it is appropriate to impose the sanction provided for in said precept in its minimum degree, of two games," the ruling said.
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The 21-year-old midfielder will have to watch on from the sidelines as Carlo Ancelotti's Real side take on Girona on February 23 and Real Betis on March 2.
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Before Bellingham's suspension begins, he will be part of the Madrid squad to face Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday, with Los Blancos holding a 3-2 aggregate lead.