Unclear words spark controversy in Bellingham-Greenwood clash

• Jude Bellingham upset Mason Greenwood with a slur aimed in his direction
• Bellingham could face a four-game ban if his slur is found to be offensive
• Mason does not want Bellingham to be punished with a ban

Jude Bellingham is a Real Madrid midfielder who recently made an alleged slur aimed at Mason Greenwood in a recent La Liga between Getafe and Real Madrid.

The midfielder was accused of making an offensive remark during the match, which led Getafe to raise the issue with La Liga, who have referred the incident to the competition committee in Spain’s football federation.

The committee looks forward to nominating a judge who will investigate the matter, which will lead to a verdict on whether Bellingham has any case to answer, in the next fourteen days. If he is found guilty, he is likely to face a four-game ban.

Mason Greenwood had previously been arrested on charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour in early 2022, charges that were later dropped due to withdrawn witness testimony and whether Bellingham’s comment constituted a slur or simply a heated exchange during the game remained a point of debate, with lipreading experts consulted, some claiming he indeed called him a rapist.

Using such a term on the field regardless of the context is unacceptable and the lack of clear audio makes it difficult to determine his exact intent though the Getafe are unanimous in their opinion that the 20-year-old used an offensive term to Greenwood.

Jude Bellingham’s Biography

Jude was born on June 29, 2003, in Stourbridge, England and he comes from a family that is passionate about football since his father played non-league football and his younger brother is also a footballer.

Jude Bellingham. Photo/Sky Sports

His football journey started at Birmingham City youth academy when he was eight years and at sixteen he became the City’s youngest-ever first-team player, breaking a long-standing record.

The midfielder’s exceptional talent attracted the attention of several top clubs and in 2020, he signed for Borussia Edmond, becoming the most expensive 17-year-old English footballer ever. During his tenure with the club, he helped them reach the DFB-Pokal final securing Champions League qualification, and his performance earned him international recognition and numerous individual awards including the EFL Young Player of the Season and the Kopa Trophy.

In mid-2023, he joined Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world, where he became one of the most promising young players and integrated into the club’s squad with his versatility. He is also a regular for the England national team where he made his debut in 2020 and since then, he has become a crucial player for the team.

Has Bellingham been involved in other controversies?

The Real Madrid midfielder has been involved in other controversies in the past that garnered some attention. In 2022, while playing for Borussia Dortmund, he was fined for publicly questioning the integrity of a referee who made controversial decisions in a match.

In late 2023, a German sports magazine published an unconfirmed report claiming that Berllinham’s attitude caused friction with some of his teammates at Borussia Dortmund though the club and the player denied the claims.

Bellingham’s slur that raised concern

It was an incident that occurred during a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Getafe, in February 2024 when he was involved in an altercation with Mason Greenwood, a player from the opposing team.

Jude Bellingham. Photo/Sky Sports

During the match, there was an on-field argument between the two players and video footage captured Bellingham saying something to Greenwood but the exact words were not clear. Speculation arose that Bellingham used an offensive term towards Greenwood, “rapist” to be precise.

Getafe filed a complaint with La Liga requesting an investigation into the incident. Using such a term on the field regardless of the context is unacceptable and the lack of clear audio makes it difficult to determine his exact intent though the Getafe are unanimous in their opinion that the 20-year-old used an offensive term to Greenwood.

The committee looks forward to nominating a judge who will investigate the matter, which will lead to a verdict on whether Bellingham has any case to answer, in the next fourteen days. If he is found guilty, he is likely to face a four-game ban.