Bellingham slapped Argentina substitute after England exit
England midfielder Jude Bellingham faces potential disciplinary action after slapping Argentina substitute Valentin Barco following a World Cup semi-final match. While the incident caused a brief melee, FIFA may classify the act as petulant rather than violent.
Why it matters
Disciplinary actions against high-profile athletes can influence match outcomes and set precedents for player conduct in international tournaments.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Bellingham and Barco clashed after the final whistle
Jude Bellingham slapped Argentina substitute Valentin Barco on the back of the head following England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat.
Barco, who did not play in the game, came on to the pitch at full-time and was hugging team-mates near Bellingham when the England midfielder walked over and slapped him.
It sparked a small melee as players from both sides got involved before Bellingham walked away.
It is not known what prompted the reaction, but footage showed Barco running on the pitch after Enzo Fernandez's 85th-minute equaliser and celebrating in front of the England players.
Bellingham could face action from Fifa's disciplinary committee for violent conduct.
Being found guilty of such a charge would result in the 23-year-old being suspended for Saturday's bronze medal match against France in Miami (kick-off 22:00 BST).
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in