‘Didn’t insult him’ - Jude Bellingham defended by Carlo Ancelotti over Valencia red card as Real Madrid boss labels last-gasp no-goal chaos ‘unprecedented’

Bellingham ran towards the corner flag to celebrate with Brahim Diaz after heading home in the dying seconds of the match. The Valencia defenders were distraught, thinking that Madrid had completed another 'remontada'from being 2-0 down. But Gil Manzano, the man with the whistle, had other ideas. Just as Diaz crossed into the box, the referee blew the final whistle to stop play with the scoreline at 2-2!

Chaos & pandemonium broke out at the Mestalla as Madrid players started reasoning with the referee. Bellingham couldn't keep his calm and then allegedly said: "It’s a f*cking goal, the ball is in the air. What the f*ck is that!" Manzano didn't like what he heard and reached for his back pocket, flashing a red card in the direction of the England international.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Ancelotti defended his player and opened up on the chaos of the situation, stating: "What to say, there is not much to say. Something unprecedented has happened. I think the game had to end when Valencia had possession. Then Bellingham's red card bothered us because he didn't insult [the referee]. Bellingham told him 'it's a f*king goal', he didn't insult him. We will see what the referee writes in the act. The players are angry. We all have to calm down. We have an important game on Wednesday."

Bellingham will be suspended for his post-match reaction to the referee when Real Madrid play Celta Vigo in La Liga next Sunday, barring a successful appeal. However, the 20-year-old will be available when Los Blancos host RB Leipzig in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.