Watch: Jude Bellingham slaps Argentina star as ugly scenes break out after England exit

Tempers flared moments after Argentina booked their place in the World Cup finals, with Jude Bellingham embroiled in a heated exchange following England’s semi-final defeat at the Atlanta Stadium.

As Argentina’s players gathered to celebrate the final whistle, Bellingham, visibly frustrated by the result, found himself at the center of an ugly confrontation. The England midfielder appeared unhappy with the celebrations taking place near him, leading to a brief clash between members of the two teams.

Footage, which quickly spread across social media, showed Bellingham making contact with Argentina substitute Valentino Barca by hitting him in the back of the head, sparking a series of pushing and shoving between the players. Several Argentina stars rushed to calm the situation, while defender Nicolas Otamendi was seen stepping in between the pair to protect his team-mate.

According to a Daily Express report, Bellingham took exception to Barco’s celebration during Argentina’s equalizer when he taunted the England team. Referee Ismail Elfath reacted immediately, stepping in to calm the situation and lead Barca away from the England players. But the Argentinian substitute escaped without further punishment.

The postgame outburst capped an emotionally charged outing for Bellingham, which was heavily involved in confrontations throughout the contest. The Real Madrid midfielder has already found himself at the center of another heated exchange with Lionel Messi during the match as tensions boiled over between the two sides.

WILL FIFA PUNISH JUDE BELLINGHAM?

There is a chance that Bellingham could face further punishment, especially if FIFA investigates the matter. The governing body is known to take strict action against players who engage in violent behavior before and after matches.

Bellingham could face a ban that could knock them out of the third-place play-off against France on Saturday, July 18. Otherwise, FIFA could slap Bellingham with a hefty fine. According to English media, FIFA has not commented on the matter at this time.

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Published on:

16 Jul 2026 09:39 IST