Hansi Flick slams "disrespectful" Jude Bellingham after Real Madrid star's red card - The Mirror

Jude Bellingham was shown a red card for dissent as Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Osasuna on Saturday and Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has weighed in on the situation

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has branded Jude Bellingham "disrespectful" after he was sent off in Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Osasuna on Saturday.

Bellingham was shown a straight red card for dissent in the first-half, but the England international later claimed he "never insulted" referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero and that the situation was simply a "communication error".

The incident came after Kylian Mbappe had put Madrid 1-0 up, but Osasuna took advantage of Bellingham's dismissal and earned a draw after Ante Budimir equalised from the penalty spot. The result means Madrid are now just three points above Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.

However, Barcelona do have a game in hand and Flick was asked about Bellingham's red card ahead of that match, a clash with Rayo Vallecano on Monday. "It is disrespectful but I'm not the one who should comment on it," Flick said.

"And that's what I've always told the players. Why waste time and energy arguing with the referee regarding the decisions he makes? There is a player, who is the captain, who has the right to argue with the referee.

"I don't like the behaviour I saw yesterday and I told the players that today. It's a weakness when you get a red card." Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, though, issued a staunch defence of Bellingham after the game.

"I don't want to talk about the refereeing because I want to stay on the bench," Ancelotti said. "When Bellingham was sent off, he didn't understand English well, because he said f*** off, not f*** you. Which in Spanish is 'don't f*** with me'."

Bellingham also explained his side of the story and issued an apology to his teammates. "I never insulted the referee, I'm glad to see there are the videos to show the reality despite the referee's report," he said.

"I'm here to apologise with my teammates as I put them in difficult situation today. I didn't say anything bad to the referee. It's clear that there was a communication error. It's an expression like Spanish one 'joder'… and the consequence is that he left us with one less player. It's not an insult, it was an expression for myself."

As a result of his sending off, Bellingham is facing a lengthy suspension ranging from four to twelve games. However, any suspension would not apply to Madrid's upcoming Champions League play-off clash with Manchester City on Wednesday.

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