Real Madrid star Bellingham explains controversial gesture after goal vs Slovakia | OneFootball

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has on Sunday evening moved to clarify the situation, after coming under scrutiny for a gesture directed towards the sidelines during England’s meeting with Slovakia.

Midfielder Bellingham is of course fresh off a night to remember on the continent.

With England a goal down, and looking set for a shock Euro 2024 exit at the hands of Slovakia, the 21-year-old conjured up a moment of individual magic.

A full five minutes into injury time, Bellingham directed a wonderful overhead kick into the bottom corner, setting the stage for Harry Kane to net an extra-time winner, sending Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions into the quarter-finals in the process.

And yet, as alluded to above, post-match, Bellingham’s name found itself back in the headlines for altogether less positive reasons.

As much came owing to a gesture on the part of the midfielder.

After netting his last-gasp equaliser, the Real Madrid star was spotted putting his hand to his face, and then his groin area.

The immediate assumption in the media was that this was directed as some form of insult towards the Slovakian bench.

Such a theory, however, has since been firmly quashed.

Taking to his official X account a short time ago, Bellingham unveiled footage of the moment in question, accompanied by the following caption:

‘An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.’

Conor Laird | GSFN