'He said f**k off' - Why Jude Bellingham was sent off for Real Madrid revealed
- Bellingham sent off during Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Osasuna in La Liga
- Carlo Ancelotti alleges breakdown of communication between player and referee
- 20-year-old set for spell on sidelines but will be able to face Man City
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti claims a breakdown in communication between Jude Bellingham and referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero led to the former being sent off against Osasuna for using foul language.
Madrid's winless streak in La Liga extended to three games after a 1-1 draw in Pamplona, after Kylian Mbappe's 25th goal of the season had given the reigning champions a first-half lead.
But despite having the advantage, Bellingham and his teammates had felt aggrieved by a number of decisions in the game, which led to the 20-year-old venting his frustration as Osasuna prepared to take a goal kick.
Referee Munuera Montero swiftly showed Bellingham a straight red card for dissent, to the complete bemusement of Tuesday's match winner in the 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off tie.
After the match, Ancelotti told the assembled media: 'I think the referee did not understand Jude Bellingham's English. He said f**k off, not f**k you… that's way different.
"'I won't talk more about the referee as I want to be on the bench next week."
Ancelotti did go on to discuss the standard of officiating in La Liga, saying: "Strange things have happened in these three games that everyone has seen. I don't feel like adding more.
"Everyone saw that the VAR didn't go in to look at plays in their area but they did in ours. There is a problem. Something has happened that shouldn't happen. We must fight and continue."
As for Bellingham, he corroborated Ancelotti's version of events and insisted that he did not insult the referee directly. "I didn't say anything bad to the referee," he told reporters. "It's clear that there was a communication error.
"It's an expression like the Spanish one "j***r"… and the consequence is that he left us with one less player. It's not an insult, it was an expression for myself."
Bellingham's absence would cost Madrid as Ante Bundimir's second-half penalty earned a point for Osasuna, allowing Barcelona the opportunity to climb back to the top of La Liga should they beat Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.
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