Real Madrid are taking an unusual step in their efforts to rescind Jude Bellingham’s red card after the Spanish side appealed his ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Bellingham was shown a red card for his protestations following a dramatic 2-2 with Valencia last weekend, which saw the Englishman head home what would have been a late winner just seconds after the full-time whistle was blown.
Madrid players surrounded the referee Gil Manzano in protest over the decision to blow the whistle, with Bellingham subsequently given his marching orders and a two-match ban.
The Liga leaders appealed the decision to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) but the decision was upheld, with the organisation citing ‘attitudes of contempt or disregard towards referees, directors or sports authorities’.
However, Madrid have not stopped in their efforts to get the ban overturned and have now appealed the decision to sport’s highest court, CAS, according to The Athletic.
CAS rulings are normally reserved for the most serious issues in sports such as Manchester City’s ban from European football in 2020 and the ban on Russian athletes from the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Even if the case is taken up, reports suggest that any ruling would not come in time to affect his suspension which is set to end at the end of March.
Speaking about the ban after his side’s midweek Champions League win, Bellingham said: ‘I didn’t say anything offensive.
‘I didn’t say anything different to what my teammates said and I think that sometimes because I’m new, they want to make an example of me.
‘In the end, I have to be responsible for my actions and I’m not proud. But I think two matches for that is a bit ridiculous. If it’s two I have to take my responsibility and cheer from the stands.’
Elsewhere, the 20-year-old has also been the subject of an investigation by the RFEF relating to an alleged slur directed towards Manchester United’s on-loan forward Mason Greenwood last month.
However, the case, which claimed Bellingham called Greenwood a ‘rapist’ during Real Madrid’s win over Getafe on February 1, was eventually dismissed.
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