England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been fined €30,000 ($32,400) by UEFA for “breaching the basic rules of decent conduct” by motioning to grab his crotch in front of the Slovakia bench during England’s Euro 2024 round-of-16 win last Sunday.
The 21-year-old was also dealt a suspended one-game ban that will come into effect if he repeats the offensive gesture at any point in the next year.
Bellingham made the gesture after he scored an overhead-kick equaliser in the dying moments of stoppage time to rescue England’s campaign, before Harry Kane headed in the winner in extra time to ensure their passage to the quarterfinals, where they face Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday.
Bellingham said on social media after the game that the action was an “inside joke to friends,” but UEFA instructed its disciplinary body to investigate the gesture and on Friday handed down the fine and the suspended one-match ban.
England or Switzerland will take on the winner of the Netherlands quarterfinal clash with Turkey, which takes place later on Saturday.
