Bellingham nearly cost England dearly due to the &...

Bellingham nearly cost England dearly due to the “hands-cover-mouth” rule, causing outrage with his foul language towards the Ghana coach.

Bellingham had a terrible game as England drew 0-0 with Ghana on the morning of June 24th.

The 0-0 draw against Ghana not only left England deeply disappointed in terms of the scoreline, but also nearly turned into a real disaster if star player Jude Bellingham had received a red card for a moment of lack of self-control.

Nearly received a red card for “challenging” FIFA rules

In a heated challenge in the first half, Bellingham was caught covering his mouth while talking to a Ghanaian player.

According to FIFA rules enacted in April 2026 just before the tournament, any player who deliberately covers their mouth during a challenge or confrontation with an opponent can be given a direct red card.

Jude Bellingham appeared to cover his mouth when talking to Jordan Ayew (Photo: Getty)

Fortunately for Bellingham and the England team, both the referee and the VAR technology department missed this situation. If the rules were strictly applied, the midfielder wearing the number 10 shirt would have been disqualified, putting England in a position of being shorthanded and facing a suspension for the rest of the group stage.

Although he escaped punishment, the 22-year-old midfielder still could not avoid criticism from experts. Former player Alan Shearer commented on television: “Jude needs to be smarter. He knows this new rule clearly. Putting yourself and the whole team at risk of receiving a red card just because of a hot moment is completely unacceptable.”

Bellingham argued fiercely with the coaching staff and Ghana players

The Real Madrid star clearly expressed disappointment when the Three Lions could not penetrate the African representative’s net, ending the match with a disappointing 0-0 draw in the group stage match.

In a tense situation, Bellingham could not keep calm and got into a fierce war of words with a defender on the Ghana side. After that, the camera lenses fully captured the moment when the 22-year-old midfielder showed anger, repeatedly confronted him head-on, and exchanged words filled with the smell of “gunpowder” with the opposing player. The climax was an exchange of vulgar words with the coach and assistant of the Ghana national team.

Bellingham had a heated argument with the Ghanaian coaching staff and players (Photo: Getty)

Ghana coach furious at England star’s attitude (Photo: Getty)

Bellingham was finally substituted by manager Gareth Southgate in the 72nd minute for Cole Palmer, after a lackluster performance that left little mark beyond his on-field outbursts.

Bellingham’s frustration mirrored a harmless day for England’s attack, as they were completely ineffective against Ghana’s high-pressing and physical style of play. The 0-0 draw against Ghana drew boos from their own fans, concluding a forgettable day for English football.