Happy Monday, kids! Remember, no swearing, or you might end up with a mouthful of soap and a time-out.
On the agenda today:
🔴 Bellingham’s red card controversy
🤫 Maddison silences the "noise"
✨ Mitoma’s magical moment
❤️ Bentaleb’s emotional return
Bellingham’s Dismissal: What Happened?
Real Madrid were cruising on a comfortable Saturday afternoon at Osasuna when controversy struck. Just before halftime, Jude Bellingham committed a fairly routine foul, which seemed inconsequential. However, Bellingham continued to argue with referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero, believing the challenge was similar to an earlier one on his teammate Vinicius Junior that was overlooked. Munuera Montero deemed Bellingham’s prolonged tirade had crossed the line and showed him a straight red card.
‘F off’ or ‘F you’?
The referee’s report claimed Bellingham said "F you," but Bellingham and Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti insist he said "F off." This difference is significant, as "F you" is considered a genuine insult in Spain, while "F off" can be interpreted as a more casual expression, like "You’re joking" or "You’re messing around." Bellingham believes his words were lost in translation, and he feels the decision was unfair, as he has been penalized for swearing before.
What Happens Next?
Bellingham acknowledged his language choice, saying, "I’m an English player… when I speak on the pitch, especially to myself, it comes naturally to say in English." He joked about trying to do it in Spanish next time.
Real Madrid immediately appealed the decision, but if their appeal is unsuccessful, Bellingham faces a suspension. This incident is the latest battle between Madrid and referees, as the club is not pleased with the officiating standards in Spain. The fallout is likely to continue.
Premier League Storylines
Liverpool remain seven points clear at the top, but they struggled against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Arsenal’s makeshift forward Mikel Merino scored twice to keep them in the race. Manchester City had a good week on and off the pitch, winning a significant case against the Premier League. Chelsea’s struggles continued, but Kaoru Mitoma’s Messi-like goal was a highlight.
Spurs Silence Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United, in a match dubbed "El Crapico" by the Athletic FC Podcast team. James Maddison’s scrappy winner and his pointed celebration, responding to "outside noise," was the difference. Spurs weren’t great, but United were worse, with Casemiro, who struggled, saying he wants to see out his contract. United are now 15th, just three places above the relegation zone.
Around The Athletic FC
The Totally Football Show gang praised Fulham, who are just four points off a potential Champions League spot and have lost just twice in 15 games. In the quiz, you had to order these seven clubs by when they were last relegated from the English top flight (most recent to least recent): Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal.
And Finally…
Remember Nabil Bentaleb? The Lille midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest during a summer five-a-side game and was put in a coma, with his career in jeopardy. But football has a way of telling fairy tales. Bentaleb made an emotional return to action, scoring just four minutes after coming off the bench in Lille’s win against Rennes. "It’s worthy of a movie," said Lille head coach Bruno Genesio.
Stay tuned for more exciting football action!
