Jude Bellingham England red card World Cup controversy explained | Football | Sport
Jude Bellingham was not shown a red card (Image: (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Here is everything you need to know about why England’s Jude Bellingham was not shown a red card against Ghana
- The Bellingham incident: A photograph of England’s Jude Bellingham shielding his mouth while speaking to Ghana’s Jordan Ayew ignited controversy owing to a newly introduced rule.
- Why Bellingham escaped sanction: Bellingham avoided punishment during the match against Ghana because his exchange with Ayew was entirely amicable, with no hint of hostility.
- The new regulation: For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA introduced a rule stipulating that a player can be dismissed with a red card for covering their mouth while addressing an opponent during a confrontation.
- The first offence: Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off under this ruling during a fiercely contested match against Turkey, following a VAR review.
- Rule catalyst: FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for the legislation following Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni receiving a six-match UEFA ban for homophobic abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
- Context is key: FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, clarified that players may still cover their mouths during friendly exchanges, but doing so during a confrontation suggests potential misconduct.
