Carlos Queiroz blames Jude Bellingham after X-rated row during fiery England vs Ghana clash

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·24 juin 2026

Carlos Queiroz blames Jude Bellingham after X-rated row during fiery England vs Ghana clash

Three Lions star involved in furious argument with Ghana boss during half-time in World Cup stalemate

Jude Bellingham has explained his foul-mouthed bust-up with Ghana’s bench during their fiery World Cup draw against England, with Carlos Queiroz blaming him for the escalation.

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Tempers flared notably at half-time of Tuesday’s Group L stalemate in Boston, with Bellingham initially seen arguing with Ghana assistant coach John Paintsil before then quickly becoming embroiled in a furious and sweary row with manager Queiroz.

Bellingham was led away by team-mate Morgan Rogers as England boss Thomas Tuchel looked to intervene to diffuse tensions, with Three Lions winger Noni Madueke also seen arguing with Queiroz.

The angry scenes were sparked by a bad foul Bellingham committed on Jerome Opoku, whom he also shoved, with the Real Madrid star claiming that the Ghana bench were attempting to get him booked by Honduran referee Said Martinez.

“It was just when I made a silly tackle, to be honest," Bellingham said after a frustrating goalless draw that still has England on course to qualify for the last 32.

“I was trying to try to win the ball, and I followed through a little bit and caught the lad. I spoke to him after, and then their bench jumped up trying to get me a yellow card.

“I think their manager, I just recognised him. He's obviously the one who used to be at Manchester United [in two spells as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant], so great respect, and nothing but a competitive edge for both of us.”

Angry exchange: Carlos Queiroz and Jude Bellingham engaged in a heated row at half-time of England vs Ghana

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Queiroz, meanwhile, insisted that Bellingham’s swearing ramped up the confrontation, also claiming that England’s No10 could have been sent off for the challenge on Opoku.

No cards were shown either for the initial foul or for anyone’s part in the fracas that followed.

“First, my intention was to tell him to cool down with that tackle that he did,” Queiroz said.

“It could be a second yellow card or red card, it was clear because he went [with] his foot against our player. But my first role was to cool down because I was worried that the player was not 100 per cent out.

“He had a bad reaction with some bad names and that’s why the story started.”

Queiroz added: “In the middle of the emotional moment, these things are normal. He swears and that created more tension.

“It's football, it's nothing special. One word created a bit of fire but we cooled down. Football is not dancing in a saloon with tuxedos. It's not a show.”

Bellingham’s actions were defended by Tuchel, who said in his post-match press conference: “No one got under our skin. It was an exchange of emotions, and of course Jude stood up for himself and for us as a team.

“There is no problem in it. We were very calm at half-time. We knew that emotions are a part of the game but we don't want to get distracted and involved with stuff that doesn’t help us.”

Asked about Queiroz’s assertion that Bellingham could have been sent off, Tuchel responded: “I could not see any red card for us today.”