Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
In an effort to get Jude Bellingham’s two-match ban lifted after his crimson card towards Osasuna, Actual Madrid had reportedly enlisted the assistance of Cristiano Ronaldo, considered one of its most legendary former gamers. Claiming that the English midfielder’s remarks had been misunderstood through the incident, the membership has fiercely challenged the referee’s judgment.
The incident occurred within the thirty ninth minute of Actual Madrid’s La Liga match towards Osasuna on February 15, 2025. Referee Juan Luis Munuera Montero confirmed Bellingham a straight crimson card for allegedly utilizing offensive language.
In line with the referee’s report, the midfielder directed the phrase “f* you”** towards him. Nevertheless, Bellingham and Actual Madrid insist he truly stated “f* off,”** a phrase generally utilized in English soccer with out direct private offense to referees.
Los Blancos instantly appealed the crimson card, hoping to clear Bellingham’s identify and forestall him from lacking essential upcoming fixtures. Nevertheless, their preliminary enchantment was rejected by the Spanish FA’s disciplinary committee, which upheld the two-game ban.
Actual Madrid’s distinctive strategy: Calling on Ronaldo
Decided to show their case, Actual Madrid searched for each potential piece of proof to help Bellingham. In a shocking transfer, they even referenced an outdated video of Cristiano Ronaldo to emphasise their level.
In line with Spanish newspaper Marca, the membership used a 2018 interview by which Ronaldo defined the cultural distinction in how English and Spanish referees interpret sure phrases. Having spent years within the Premier League with Manchester United, Ronaldo acknowledged that English referees don’t view “f* off” as an insult**, whereas in Spain, referees are inclined to penalize gamers for saying the identical phrases.
🗣️ Cristiano Ronaldo (2018): “In England gamers say f*ck off to referees and the refs don’t assume it’s an insult. Right here, they ship you out.”
A part of the committee’s report, as quoted by Marca, acknowledged Madrid’s argument: “Lastly and moreover, it’s famous, on the idea of the report of the linguistic knowledgeable, the general public statements from 2018 of a prestigious participant similar to Cristiano Ronaldo, who spent a big a part of his skilled profession in England, and of the numerous professionals within the English language, that the expression ‘f** off’ is of widespread use, amongst different teams, by English gamers on the taking part in fields, with out this entailing any disciplinary sanction by the referees as it isn’t an offensive or disparaging expression.”*
Regardless of this argument, the committee finally dominated towards Actual Madrid, stating that there was inadequate proof to verify that Bellingham had stated “f*** off” as a substitute of “f*** you.” Because of this, his two-game suspension stays in place.
What matches will Bellingham miss?
With the ban upheld, Bellingham will now miss two essential La Liga matches—particularly, the sport towards Girona on February 23 and the match towards Actual Betis on March 2. Nonetheless, he shall be eligible to play in Actual Madrid’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg towards Actual Sociedad on February 26, offering him with an vital alternative to contribute to his workforce’s success regardless of the setback in league play.
