Hope for Jude Bellingham? Real Madrid to take England midfielder's controversial Valencia red card to Court of Arbitration for Sport after seeing initial appeal rejected

Per The Athletic, Real have appealed to CAS after the Spanish Football Federation rejected an appeal to reduce his two-game ban. Bellingham was sent off after a chaotic final few minutes against Valencia; the ball came into the box and the final whistle blew before the England midfielder headed home. He subsequently told the referee "it's a f*cking goal" and was dismissed.

Bellingham is set to miss Real's games against Celta Vigo this weekend and Osasuna but the club are aware that any CAS ruling will not come in time for him to play. The club have argued that Bellingham did not say anything offensive, but the RFEF rejected that explanation. CAS may not.

Bellingham has been in imperious form for Real this season and has made 31 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals and registering nine assists. The 20-year-old is in fine fettle ahead of this summer's European Championships.

Bellingham will have to watch on from the sidelines for Real's next two games. Bellingham could return on March 31 against Athletic Club.