Jude Bellingham found himself embroiled in controversy during Real Madrid’s La Liga encounter with Espanyol after a heated exchange with referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero. The incident occurred as Bellingham, alongside two of his Real Madrid teammates, received cautions for protesting decisions during the match. Despite the tension, Real Madrid secured a dominant 4-1 comeback victory after an early own goal by Thibaut Courtois.
Visibly frustrated, Bellingham was booked just before being substituted. His anger stemmed from the referee halting a Real Madrid counterattack to issue the yellow card. As he left the pitch, Bellingham was caught on camera voicing his displeasure with an expletive-laden comment, calling the referee a "piece of s***."
The incident became a talking point on social media, with many fans criticizing the referee’s decision. One fan tweeted, "Ref STOPS the play on a Real Madrid counter to go book Bellingham because Jude… got fouled. I wish I was joking." Another added, "That’s the third time today the ref has given a questionable booking." Fans were baffled by the call, with many feeling it disrupted the flow of the game.
Despite the controversy, Bellingham’s performance was widely praised. The England international completed 51 out of 60 passes, made 79 touches, and provided three key passes, earning him the player of the match award from SofaScore.
Real Madrid ultimately triumphed with goals from Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, substitute Vinicius Jr, and a late penalty from Kylian Mbappé. Vinicius' introduction proved crucial, as he assisted Rodrygo’s goal with a stunning outside-of-the-foot cross before finding the back of the net himself.
🚨🚨🎙️| Jude Bellingham to the referee: "You are a piece of shit..."
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) September 21, 2024
pic.twitter.com/gibdK4suk0
Bellingham and his teammates will look to carry this momentum into their next match against Alaves on Tuesday.