Jude Bellingham has been cleared to play against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final on Saturday following a Uefa investigation.
The England midfielder has been given a suspended one-match ban and fined £25,400 for a lewd celebration during the last-16 win over Slovakia.
But Bellingham will not face a ban unless he breaches the Uefa regulations around “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” again in the next year.
Uefa investigated a gesture Bellingham made after scoring a 95th-minute equaliser against Slovakia, which the Real Madrid midfielder called: “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game”.
He appeared to cup his testicles in the direction of the Slovakian bench, but said post-match: “Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”
Alongside Bellingham’s suspended ban, Uefa has fined the FA £8,500 for crowd disturbances and £850 for fireworks being lit during the Slovakia match in Gelsenkirchen.
Uefa said it had decided “to fine the English Football Association player Jude Bellingham €30,000 and to suspend him for a total of one Uefa competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible for violating the basic rules of decent conduct.
“Said suspension is not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision.”
Bellingham’s availability will be a huge boost to Gareth Southgate, who appears set to introduce a significant tactical change against Switzerland in Dusseldorf.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder is expected to line up alongside Phil Foden as twin attacking midfielders behind Harry Kane.
Bellingham has scored two crucial goals for England so far in Germany – the winner in the opener against Serbia and the late equaliser against Slovakia.
And he will continue to be vital to hopes that the Three Lions can navigate the statistically safer half of the knockout draw to reach the Euro 2024 final on 14 June.
Meanwhile, Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been banned for two games for his “wolf salute” after scoring against Austria in the last 16.
The gesture is banned in some European countries due to its links to fascist Turkish youth group the Grey Wolves.
This rules Demiral out of a potential semi-final with England if both nations win their respective quarter-finals.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/Mi5FGAc
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