Atlanta, July 16: England midfielder Jude Bellingham could come under FIFA’s disciplinary scrutiny after appearing to strike Argentina substitute Valentin Barco on the back of the head following his side’s 2-1 defeat in the FIFA World Cup semi-final.
The incident occurred moments after the final whistle as Argentina celebrated their dramatic comeback victory.
Barco, who remained an unused substitute during the match, entered the field to celebrate with his teammates before Bellingham walked over and slapped him on the back of the head, triggering a brief confrontation involving players from both sides.
While the exact cause of the altercation remains unclear, television footage showed Barco sprinting onto the pitch after Enzo Fernandez’s late equaliser and celebrating in close proximity to England’s players. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, described Barco’s actions as “probably the worst example of sportsmanship” seen during the tournament.
Bellingham now faces the possibility of disciplinary action from FIFA. Should the incident be deemed violent conduct, the England midfielder could be suspended for Saturday’s third-place play-off against France.
However, FIFA may instead classify the act as unsporting behaviour rather than violent conduct, with the Laws of the Game stating that a deliberate strike to the head using negligible force does not automatically constitute a red-card offence.
The semi-final itself was an ill-tempered affair, with referee Ismail Elfath issuing several cautions as both teams committed numerous fouls. Bellingham was also involved in an early exchange with Argentina captain Lionel Messi following a challenge on teammate Elliot Anderson.
Speaking after the match, Bellingham played down that earlier incident with Messi, insisting it was simply a discussion over a foul and “nothing bad.” (Agencies)
