England midfielder Jude Bellingham is set to be available for the upcoming UEFA European Championship quarterfinal against Switzerland after receiving a suspended one-match ban and a €30,000 fine from UEFA. The disciplinary action was a result of a lewd gesture made by Bellingham during England's round-of-16 victory over Slovakia.
Following his dramatic 95th-minute overhead kick that led to extra time, Bellingham celebrated by kissing his hand and making a gesture that appeared to involve his crotch. The player later explained that it was an 'inside-joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game.'
However, UEFA's control, ethics, and disciplinary body (CEDB) deemed Bellingham's actions as a violation of the basic rules of decent conduct. As a consequence, Bellingham was fined €30,000 and handed a one-match suspension for a future UEFA competition, pending a probationary period of one year.
The Football Association (FA) has indicated that they do not intend to appeal the decision. Additionally, the FA received separate fines totalling €11,000 for incidents of 'crowd disturbances' and 'lighting of fireworks.'
Bellingham will need to be cautious in his conduct moving forward, as any similar gestures within the probationary period could result in further disciplinary action. A repeat offense in the upcoming match against Switzerland could lead to a potential suspension for a semifinal clash against either Turkey or the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, England's preparations for the quarterfinal match are in full swing, with all 26 players participating in training sessions. Manager Gareth Southgate's team has reportedly been experimenting with a back three formation in training this week, aiming to address recent performance issues despite advancing to the tournament's last eight.
