Former Real Madrid midfielder defends Jude Bellingham after Osasuna ruling – ‘It’s hypocritical’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart has stepped forward to support Jude Bellingham after the English star was handed a two-match suspension following an incident during the match against Osasuna.

Bellingham, who has been one of Real Madrid’s standout performers this season, received the ban for his verbal outburst directed at referee Munuera Montero during the 1-1 draw last weekend

The controversy surrounding the incident had been a major talking point for several days, with debates raging over what exactly was said and what punishment should be imposed.

Eventually, the verdict arrived—Bellingham will be sidelined for Real Madrid’s next two matches.

Van der Vaart’s take

While many have argued that the midfielder deserved to be penalised for his actions, others, including Rafael Van der Vaart, believe the decision was unnecessarily harsh.

The Dutchman, who once wore the famous white shirt of Real Madrid, feels that referees in Spain should be more tolerant of such outbursts, as they are often spoken in the heat of the moment and are a common occurrence in football.

Van der Vaart expressed frustration over the way certain words are treated differently depending on the context.

Jude Bellingham was sent off against Osasuna. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

He pointed out that in English football, players frequently use strong language without facing serious consequences, yet when similar expressions are used in Spain, they result in suspensions.

“What really bothers me in England is that everyone there says ‘f**k this’, ‘f**k that’, but if I say that on TV, I get fired. It’s very hypocritical,” he said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

The former midfielder further suggested that in an intense match environment, emotions can boil over, leading to players using language that might not be polite but is commonplace on the pitch.

He implied that such phrases should not automatically result in punishment unless they are deliberately offensive or threatening.

“Everyone talks like that. It’s not polite, but it’s almost like saying ‘thank you.’ Seriously, especially in England. I think you can say ‘f**k yourself’ in a heated moment.

“It is a normal language in the countryside, even in this country (Spain). I think there’s a big difference between saying ‘F**k you’ and ‘f**k off’,” he added.

The debate over Bellingham’s suspension continues, with some arguing that referees should focus on maintaining control of the game rather than reacting strongly to verbal exchanges.

However, for now, Real Madrid will have to manage without their star midfielder for the next two matches as they push forward in their campaign.