Jude Bellingham has been cleared to play in England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with Switzerland after UEFA concluded their probe into a bizarre crotch-grabbing gesture he made during the side’s win over Slovakia.
In a statement on Monday, UEFA confirmed that they had opened an investigation into the act Bellingham performed in the aftermath of his dramatic late equaliser in Gelsenkirchen.
Four days on from the announcement, Bellingham has been given the green light to take to the field in Dusseldorf. The 21-year-old midfielder has, though, been slapped with a suspended one-match ban on a one-year probationperiod.
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 went on to advance from the nervy last-16 contest, with Harry Kane heading home a crucial extra-time winner to set up this weekend’s intriguing match-up witch Switzerland.
It was initially believed that Bellingham had directed the gesture towards Slovakia’s bench, but the Real Madrid sensation insisted it was merely an ‘inside joke’ with friends which had been taken out of context.
‘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.’