England have been given the green light to field Jude Bellingham against Switzerland (Picture: Getty)
Jude Bellingham has been cleared to play in England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with Switzerland after UEFA concluded their probe into a crotch-grabbing gesture the midfielder made during the side’s win over Slovakia.
In a statement on Monday, UEFA confirmed that they were investigating the bizarre act Bellingham performed in the aftermath of his dramatic late equaliser in Gelsenkirchen.
Four days on, though, Bellingham has been given the all clear to feature in Dusseldorf. However, the 21-year-old has been slapped with a suspended one-match ban on a one-year probation period ‘for violating the basic rules of decent conduct’.
Bellingham, who is set to earn his 34th cap this weekend, has also been fined €30,000.
Despite yet another lacklustre showing, the Three Lions advanced from their nervy last-16 contest with Slovakia, with Harry Kane heading home a crucial extra-time winner to set up tomorrow’s match-up with Switzerland.
The winning team will do battle with either the Netherlands or Turkey for a place in this year’s final at the Olympiastadion Berlin on July 14.
Elsewhere in this weekend’s intriguing set of quarter-final fixtures, Spain take on tournament hosts Germany, while Portugal face off against France in what is a repeat of the 2016 final.
Jude Bellingham had been accused of aiming the lewd gesture towards Slovakia’s bench (X)
It was initially believed that Bellingham had directed his gesture towards Slovakia’s bench, but the Real Madrid sensation insisted it was merely an ‘inside joke’ that had been taken out of context with friends at the crowd.
‘It was an inside-joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game,’ Bellingham said following England’s 2-1 victory.
‘Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.’
After UEFA’s initial statement earlier this week, ex-England striker Gary Lineker blasted the decision to potentially sanction Bellingham.
‘For crying out loud, the Euro 2024 celebration police are looking into Jude Bellingham. Ridiculous!’ Lineker – the BBC’s lead presenter in Germany – wrote on X.
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