Real Madrid superstar avoids severe punishment for shocking referee insult: “Piece of…” | OneFootball

Jude Bellingham narrowly avoided further punishment during Real Madrid’s dramatic comeback against Espanyol after an incident where he insulted referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero.

According to Mundo Deportivo, cameras picked up the midfielder’s outburst in English following a yellow card he received during the match, but the referee did not catch the insult.

It has been suggested that Bellingham struggled throughout the match. From the start, he faced issues with his shoulder, which made the game physically challenging. Despite the discomfort, he managed to push through and continue playing.

The second half, however, saw Bellingham become more involved in the action, leading to a tense moment with Espanyol’s Jose Gragera.

What happened between Bellingham and the referee?

The key moment came when Bellingham had possession of the ball and was brought down during a duel with Gragera. Expecting a foul in his favour, the Englishman was frustrated when the referee allowed play to continue, not awarding a free kick.

Still on the ground, Bellingham protested, which led to him being booked by the referee for dissent. It was at this point that Bellingham lost his temper.

Jude Bellingham escaped a serious punishment against Espanyol. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

After receiving the yellow card, and while the referee’s back was turned, Bellingham reportedly directed an insult at Munuera Montero.

“You’re a piece of shit”, the Englishman reportedly said, which the official did not hear. As a result, Bellingham escaped further punishment and remained on the field.

While the incident went unnoticed by the referee, cameras captured the moment, sparking conversations about what might have happened if the referee had understood or heard the insult.

Bellingham’s frustration throughout the match, especially after being booked, clearly boiled over in this instance. Fortunately for him, the referee did not take any further action.

Real Madrid went on to complete a successful comeback, but the incident could have had far worse consequences for Bellingham.

A second yellow card or even a red card could have altered the course of the match. However, the young British player managed to escape with just the yellow card and continued to play an important role for his team.