Jude Bellingham insists his X-rated gesture was not directed towards Slovakia’s bench during England’s extra-time win at Euro 2024 on Sunday.
The Real Madrid midfielder rescued England’s place in the tournament as his overhead kick in the 94th minute of injury time ended Slovakia’s hopes of pulling off a shock upset in their last-16 tie on Sunday.
Harry Kane then netted his second goal at Euro 2024 to put England 2-1 ahead and Gareth Southgate’s side were able to hold on to the victory, which sets up a quarter-final tie against Switzerland on July 6.
After walking back to England’s half following his equaliser, Bellingham was spotted making a gesture with his hands towards his groin and he looked in the direction of the two dugouts.
The 21-year-old was initially accused of directing the gesture towards the Slovakian bench, however, he strongly denies this.
In a response to the video on X, Bellingham wrote: ‘An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.’
During the celebrations for his goal, Bellingham said ‘who else’ to the crowd and the 21-year-old admits he has taken some of the criticism he has received at Euro 2024 personally.
‘I think the adrenaline gets you,’ Bellingham said when asked to explain his celebration.
‘But it’s a combination of a lot of things, playing for England is an enjoyable feeling but it’s also a lot of pressure, you hear people talk a lot of rubbish.
🥱❌- An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.🤝🏽 https://t.co/H8sETMkPoi
— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) June 30, 2024
‘It’s nice that when you deliver you can give them a little bit back.
‘It’s very difficult in press conferences and in interviews and things like that to talk as openly as footballers want to because they’re always judged.
‘For me, football and being on the pitch, scoring goals, celebrating is my release.
‘It was maybe a message to a few people but a very happy moment and full of adrenaline.’
ENGLAND’S ROUTE TO Euro 2024 FINAL
QUARTER FINAL – July 6 at 5pm
England vs Switzerland
SEMI FINAL – July 10 at 8pm
England vs Romania, Netherlands, Austria or Turkey
FINAL – July 14 at 8pm
England vs Germany, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, France or Belgium
Asked what he meant by ‘the rubbish’, Bellingham said: ‘I think you know what I mean by the rubbish.
‘Like I said, playing for England should be one of the most proud things of a footballer’s career but I feel at times it’s quite difficult.
‘There’s a really high, intense pressure. The fans expect a lot from us, regardless of what happened in recent tournaments years and years ago.
‘I think you do have to take it personally a little bit. We work so hard at this game, we come in and train every day so hard to try and put on performances for the fans. Sometimes it doesn’t go well, sometimes it feels like it’s a bit of a pile-on.
‘It’s not nice to hear but you can always use it for moments like that, it’s nice to kind of throw it back to people, I suppose.’