Barcelona could launch appeal after Real Madrid talisman's red card gets overturned

Yahoo

30-04-2025

Real Madrid received a major boost ahead of the next El Clasico as Jude Bellingham's red card, shown after the Copa del Rey final, has been officially annulled by the Competition Committee.
However, according to a report from SPORT, Barcelona are unhappy with the decision and are even considering appealing the outcome. However, the facts of the case point clearly in Madrid's favour.
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It must be noted that Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle, not for any violent conduct or action during the game itself, but for expressing his disagreement with the referee's decisions.
His reaction—emotional but far from physically aggressive—was clearly influenced by the high-stakes nature of the match.
Upon reviewing the incident, both the referee's final report and video footage confirmed that the midfielder did not act in an intimidating or threatening way.
Jude Bellingham was sent off in Copa del Rey final. (Photo by)
The Competition Committee's decision was based on those facts, and as such, the red card was rightly rescinded.
Barcelona's argument
Barcelona's claim that this creates a competitive imbalance appears to be more rooted in frustration than in logic.
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The governing bodies exist to assess each case individually, and in this instance, the evidence did not support the severity of the initial punishment.
To argue that a player should be suspended just because he plays for a rival team or might influence a future match sets a dangerous precedent.
Bellingham's availability is simply the result of justice being served, not favouritism. It would be inappropriate to uphold a ban just to maintain some perception of 'competitive balance'.
If the shoe were on the other foot, and a Barcelona player had a red card overturned on similar grounds, the club would likely celebrate it as fairness in action.