Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:16pm on 16 Jul 2026,Thursday Sports
England midfielder Jude Bellingham could face FIFA disciplinary scrutiny after appearing to slap Argentina substitute Valentin Barco on the back of the head following England's 2-1 defeat in the FIFA World Cup semi-final. The incident occurred after the final whistle as Argentina celebrated reaching the final, briefly sparking a confrontation between players from both teams. Barco had earlier celebrated Argentina's equaliser near England's players, though the reason for Bellingham's reaction remains unclear. FIFA could review the incident, but the act is more likely to be treated as unsporting behaviour rather than violent conduct, making a suspension less likely.
