Barcelona’s Flick brands Bellingham ‘disrespectful’

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham is facing heat. He got a red card in the Osasuna match. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Now, Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick has spoken out. Flick thinks Bellingham showed disrespect to the referee. This all happened because of the red card incident on Saturday.

Why the Red Card?

The England midfielder was sent off early in the game. Just 39 minutes had been played when it occurred. Apparently, he showed dissent. To be precise, Bellingham confronted referee Jose Munuera Montero. This led to the dismissal.

Bellingham’s Side of the Story

However, Bellingham sees things differently. He claimed it was simply a misunderstanding. Furthermore, he denied insulting the referee. He suggests his words were misinterpreted.

Coach Flick’s Strong Words

Flick did not hold back his opinion. “It was disrespectful,” he clearly stated. He admitted he doesn’t know exactly what Bellingham said. Yet, Flick has rules for his own team’s conduct. “My players shouldn’t waste time talking to referees,” he explained. “Only the captain should do that.” Flick also stressed the team impact: “A red card like that hurts the team.” He shared these thoughts on Sunday.

Ancelotti Defends Bellingham

On the other hand, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is supporting his player. Ancelotti defended Bellingham’s actions. He even hinted at a possible language issue. “I think the referee didn’t understand English well,” Ancelotti suggested. He further added, “I don’t think it was offensive at all.” He told reporters this after the game.

Not the First Time

Actually, this isn’t Bellingham’s first red card for Real Madrid. He joined the club in 2023. Since then, this marks his second time being sent off. His first red card happened last March. It occurred after arguing with a referee in a Valencia game.

What’s Next for La Liga?

Meanwhile, Barcelona sees this as an opportunity. They can now close the gap in points. Barcelona could equal Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. This is possible when they play Rayo Vallecano. That important match is set for Monday.