AFCON 2025
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said he does not have any sympathy for Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham after he was sent off for swearing at a referee.
Guardiola believes that referees should be left alone to do their jobs.
Bellingham scored the winner as Madrid claimed a 3-2 win over City in the first leg of their Champions League playoff first leg at the Etihad last week.
The England midfielder is set to face Guardiola’s side in the second leg on Wednesday, days after his dismissal against Osasuna on Saturday.
Bellingham and Madrid have insisted that the play said “f— off” towards referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero and not “f— you”.
Speaking in Madrid on Tuesday ahead of the second leg, Guardiola said:
“My English is good, but I don’t understand the difference between f— off and f— you.
“But what’s important is the intention, not the insult. The best thing is not to do it and leave the referees in peace.
“There have always been decisions. You should ask Jude what his intention was. That’s what matters.”
