Jude Bellingham has once again found himself in the spotlight — but not just for his football skills.
The 21-year-old midfielder’s fiery temper was on full display during Real Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Saudi side Al-Hilal, where he let loose a string of angry words at a linesman.
This latest outburst adds to a growing list of incidents that have raised eyebrows over his sometimes hot-headed behavior on the pitch.
Clash Over a Throw-In Sparks Heated Exchange
The drama unfolded when Joao Cancelo kicked the ball off Bellingham during a tight moment, sending it out for a throw-in.
However, Bellingham insisted the ball had last touched the defender, not Al-Hilal, and wasn’t ready to give up possession.
Frustrated, he shouted at the linesman with an offensive phrase, demanding “our ball, our ball, f*** off.”
The incident came during a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, a match where emotions clearly ran high.
Real Madrid’s Rocky Start to the Club World Cup
The Spanish giants, who’ve won the Club World Cup six times including a recent win in 2022, started strong with Gonzalo Garcia scoring the opening goal after 34 minutes.
But Al-Hilal fought back, with Ruben Neves converting a penalty late in the first half to level the score.
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty, decided after a VAR review, which could have won the match — marking a frustrating end for coach Xabi Alonso in his debut game and for new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold making his first appearance.
Bellingham’s Temper Is Nothing New
This wasn’t Bellingham’s first display of frustration on the field.
Just eight days earlier, he was criticized for kicking a water cooler in anger following England’s defeat to Senegal.
After his late goal was ruled out, he stormed off the pitch at the City Ground, chasing down the fourth official before launching his outburst.
England Manager Thomas Tuchel Comments on Bellingham’s Behavior
In a revealing interview, England boss Thomas Tuchel shared how Bellingham’s aggressive attitude can sometimes intimidate teammates and negatively affect the team’s dynamic.
It’s not the first time Bellingham’s behavior has been questioned — last summer’s Euros and a recent La Liga match saw the midfielder receive suspensions and warnings for foul language and confrontations with referees.
Controversial Incidents Shadow Bellingham’s Rising Stardom
Earlier this year, Bellingham received a two-match ban for swearing at a referee during a La Liga match against Osasuna.
While the official said Bellingham told him “f*** you,” the midfielder insisted his frustration was directed at himself, not the referee.
He has also been caught on camera swearing at a referee during Real Madrid’s Champions League loss to AC Milan last November.
What’s Next for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup?
Despite the distractions, Real Madrid now look ahead to their upcoming group stage games in the US against Mexican side Pachuca and Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg.
The pressure is on Xabi Alonso and his team to regain focus and push for success in the tournament.