UEFA Fines and Suspends Bellingham and Demiral for Misconduct

England midfielder, Jude Bellingham has been fined €30,000 ($32,400) by UEFA for “breaching the basic rules of decent conduct” after making an offensive gesture toward the Slovakia bench during England’s Euro 2024 round-of-16 win.

The 21-year-old also received a suspended one-game ban that will be enforced if he repeats the gesture within the next year.

Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been handed a two-game suspension by UEFA for celebrating a goal with a hand sign linked to an ultranationalist group during his team’s round-of-16 victory over Austria.

UEFA stated Demiral was penalized for “failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.”

Demiral, who scored both goals in Turkey’s 2-1 win, will miss the quarterfinal against the Netherlands and potentially the semifinal if Turkey progresses. His celebration involved a hand sign associated with the Gray Wolves, a group banned in France and Austria for its nationalist ties.

The incident has sparked political tension, with Germany’s interior minister condemning the gesture and Turkey’s President Erdogan deciding to attend the quarterfinal in Berlin as a result.