Not many days have passed since team England thanked Jude Bellingham’s clutch Real Madrid gene for helping the Three Lions avoid embarrassment at Slovakia’s hands. Slovakia was a minute away from uprooting England and qualifying for the UEFA Euro quarters. But then, Bellingham showed up big with a 95th-minute bicycle kick goal that sent the game into extra time, enabling Harry Kane to see off Slovakia with a header. However, what Bellingham did after his clutch strike has massively upset the UEFA that organizes the European tournament.

The Real Madrid ace made a crotch-grabbing gesture while celebrating his equalizer and came under the UEFA’s scrutiny. After further investigation, the European federation slapped Bellingham with a one-game ban and a five-figure fine. So, is the one-game ban immediate? Is there a chance for the 21-year-old to miss today’s quarter-final against Switzerland? We have you covered.

The latest update on Jude Bellingham’s ban and availability for the Switzerland tie

Though he is not in his Real Madrid form, Jude Bellingham has scored two goals from open play for England, which is a rarity in the ongoing Euros. Considering how poorly England has fared against most teams, they might again need Bellingham’s clutch gene to survive the Swiss team. At this juncture, the news of Bellingham’s ban has sent shockwaves across the English fanbase. But the ball is on England’s court this time. Fans can breathe, as the UEFA’s ban will be effective only a year later.

As per the UEFA’s judgment, the young superstar should sit out one England game a year later from the ongoing Euros. Hence, we could see the Madrid ace start for Gareth Southgate and Co. in tonight’s quarter-final. Besides the ban, the UEFA has also asked Bellingham to pay a fine of $32,000 for his obscene gesture. Awaiting these punishments, the 21-year-old broke his silence on the fiasco, stating he made the gesture without any harmful intent.

Bellingham says his gesture was only ‘an inside joke’

After the incident and the subsequent ban, Jude Bellingham took to social media and said the obscene gesture was not intended for rival Slovakian players. “It was an inside-joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game,” said Bellingham. The Englishman also pointed out that he had immense respect for the way Slovakia played. Notably, this is not the first time the 21-year-old has made this gesture. He has done it in the last season at Real Madrid as well.

Gareth Southgate also ran to the attacking midfielder’s defense. “Clearly when you score a goal of the quality that he did at the moment that he did at the age that he is you are going to have an incredible rush of adrenaline,” said Southgate. He added there was no harmful intent from Bellingham’s side.

Like all of England’s other games at the Euro, Bellingham will start against Switzerland. Meanwhile, the Turkey-Netherlands quarter-final will see Turkish star Merih Demiral miss the game, as a punishment for a gesture he made in Turkey’s win against Austria.