• Bellingham handed a two-game suspension for the red card shown during the Osasuna match.
• 21-year-old midfielder shown a red card for employing offensive and abusive language towards the referee.
• Real Madrid contended that the referee had misinterpreted Bellingham's actions.
Real Madrid's efforts to reverse Jude Bellingham's two-game La Liga suspension have been turned down by the Appeals Committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The 21-year-old received a red card from referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero for employing foul, abusive, and insulting words, although Bellingham and Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti maintained that he had been misinterpreted.
Bellingham indeed cursed at the referee, that detail has been accepted, but Munuera Montero's assertion that the England midfielder uttered "f**k you" is disputed, with the purported remark claimed to be "f**k off" – a non-personal curse aimed at the frustration of calls favoring Madrid rather than an insult.
The highest possible punishment for Bellingham could have been a 12-match suspension, but he ended up with a two-match ban, specifically for La Liga matches, which he received on Wednesday. Madrid later contested the ruling, but they were not successful, and he will be absent for the forthcoming matches against Girona and Real Betis.
Discontent regarding referees has dominated in Spain this season, with Madrid especially annoyed by how they have been handled throughout the campaign. The reigning La Liga champions have submitted a letter of complaint to the Spanish Football Federation alleging that "double standards" are enforced when Madrid competes.
Ancelotti hinted at dubious decision-making following Bellingham's red card, stating "there is an issue" in La Liga and that Madrid must "struggle and persist" for justice to enable future change.
Regarding Bellingham, he stated before knowing about his ban: "I recall the incident clearly, but I’ve also watched the video." The video does not align with the [referee's] report ... I anticipate that the video will be examined. We can't alter the outcome of this match, but I hope that in the future there will be a shift.
Instead, Bellingham will remain on the bench after aiding Madrid in eliminating Manchester City from the Champions League. They are set to face fierce competitors Atletico in the round of 16, possibly securing a match against Arsenal if they defeat Dutch powerhouses PSV Eindhoven.