Real Madrid are taking Jude Bellingham’s red card appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following his sending off against Valencia.
The midfielder is set to serve a two-match suspension after an appeal to overturn the red card was rejected by the Spanish Football Federation.
CAS traditionally deals with high profile and often complex sporting disputes, having ruled on Manchester City’s European ban in 2020 and a number of anti-doping cases.
Bellingham will miss Madrid’s La Liga games against Celta Vigo on Sunday and Osasuna, with the club appealing to CAS with the knowledge its ruling will not come in time to overturn the suspension for the upcoming two fixtures.
The 20-year-old was sent off following a controversial full-time whistle by referee Jesus Gil Manzano, bringing the game at the Mestalla to a close with the score 2-2.
The signal for full-time came with Madrid still on the attack following a corner in added time, with the whistle blown just as Bellingham headed in from Brahim Diaz’s cross.
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It then became clear that Bellingham’s ‘goal’ had come after the whistle and the Englishman, along with many of his Madrid team-mates, argued against the decision. Gil Manzano then showed Bellingham a straight red card for his protestation.
The club argued that Bellingham’s words were not “offensive or insulting” but the Spanish federation (RFEF) found insufficient evidence to overturn the referee’s original decision to dismiss him.
After his side’s draw with RB Leipzig on Wednesday, Bellingham said: “I didn’t say anything offensive. I didn’t say anything different to what my teammates said and I think that sometimes, because I’m new, they want to make an example of me.
“In the end, I have to be responsible for my actions and I’m not proud. But I think two matches for that is a bit ridiculous. If it’s two I have to take my responsibility and cheer from the stands.”
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(Mateo Villalba/Getty Images)
