'Nobody is perfect' - England boss Gareth Southgate defends Jude Bellingham's temperament after Euro 2024 ban lucky escape for lewd crotch-grab gesture

The 20-year-old was investigated by UEFA over a gesture he made as he celebrated his last-ditch equaliser in the last-16 tie against Slovakia, with many interpreting it as an insult aimed at the opposition bench. Instead, UEFA gave him a suspended one-game ban and a fine, meaning he is available for Saturday's match against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

Southgate is not concerned by the Real Madrid star's actions, however, as he stressed Bellingham is not perfect and admits that he would not know how to react after scoring such an important goal at that age.

He told reporters: "I haven’t spoken with him. I think it’s a common-sense decision. Clearly it’s an unprecedented moment in someone’s life to score a goal like that in the 96th minute. I don’t know how I’d have reacted if that was me, at his age as well.

"I’m just so mindful of everything he’s achieving and at that age – or any age – nobody is going to be perfect. You are at times going to react emotionally and without that emotion I don’t think you have the type of player he is. I think he deals with everything so well."

He added: Jude is an incredible boy to work with. The maturity that he has, how he deals with everything, the ability to impact games in the most important moments. I have a really good relationship with him. But there’s a spotlight on him and I think he knows I’m there to support him. I’m so pleased with how he responded in the last game to a couple of quieter games, which in his world became a crisis. He’s super-motivated to help us win [on Saturday]."

Southgate will hope Bellingham can put in yet another decisive display when the Three Lions line up against Switzerland in their Euro 2024 quarter-final tie, with the winners going on to face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the next round.