Online Reporter
JUDE BELLINGHAM was chased off the field by Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz after a fiery, sweary row at half-time.
England were frustrated by the Black Stars in the goalless first half of their World Cup showdown in Boston. Bellingham committed a cynical late foul just before the half-time whistle.
He escaped a yellow card for the barge on Jerome Opoku in front of the dugouts.
And as the players and coaches headed back towards the tunnel, the Real Madrid midfielder got into an explosive argument.
He was seen raging with Ghana coach John Paintsil. Both men appeared to shout “f*** you” and “f*** off” at one another as tempers flared.
Ghana manager Quieroz also got involved with chirping comments and tried to get after Bellingham. But he was held back by some of his own backroom staff.
England assistant Anthony Barry and Bellingham’s pal Morgan Rogers tried to calm the No10 down.
Photos showed Noni Madueke taking a pop at Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant during the spat. Speaking about the incident after holding England to the 0-0 draw, Quieroz said: “My intention was to tell him [Bellingham] to cool down with that tackle that he did.
“Could be a yellow card, clearly, because he went with the foot against our player.
“I was worried because my player was not in 100 per cent health. “He had a bad reaction with [saying] some bad names and that’s why it started.”
He then added in his press conference: “It is just football, team-mates, trying to win the games, it was nothing special, just that emotional moment, that moment when you have one word out of the vocabulary that creates a bit of fire.
“But immediately as professionals we cool down.” Asked if he could repeat the word Bellingham uttered, the ex-Portugal chief replied: “It’s just normal things in football.
“Football cannot turn into a saloon of dancing with tuxedos… this is something for brave people, we don’t want to turn football into dancing with tuxedos, it’s not dancing, it’s not a show.”
Bellingham was making his 50th appearance for England – and at the age of 22 years and 359 days, he broke Wayne Rooney’s record as the youngest man to reach the milestone.
Thomas Tuchel was smiling before kick-off when Fifa changed their World Cup protocols to move photographers out of the way for the national anthems.
That enabled him to have a clear view of his Three Lions squad as they belted out God Save The King. Before the game, Djed Spence snubbed a handshake with Thomas Partey – and the Tottenham full-back was singled out by Tuchel for some harsh instructions during the first-half hydration break.
But things did not go to plan as they struggled to break down the Ghanaian defence.
England did not manage to register a single shot on target in the first half.
Tuchel turned to Bukayo Saka, Nico O’Reilly, Eberechi Eze and Rogers from the bench – as Bellingham was among those withdrawn.
It did not make the difference the German wanted, though, as they could not find the breakthrough and it finished 0-0.
In fact, Ghana could have had the chance to win it but were controversially denied a penalty – and Jordan Pickford escaped punishment when he came flying out of his area.
Quieroz said: “Is VAR still working in the World Cup? Do we still have VAR? I have doubts about that. “The VAR referee was on vacation second half, apparently. “Once again, the VAR went for coffee.
“I like to take my coffees once in a while! It’s a clear penalty and a red card [on Konsa]. Do you have any dobuts about that, or as it only me who was at the game?”
Queiroz cheekily apologised for his mocking tone towards the officiating later in the press conference. He said: “I am sorry for my sarcasm, but if I say this kind of thing seriously, they punish me. So I am joking.” Before being substituted, Bellingham risked a sending off.
He was pictured seemingly covering his mouth while talking to Jordan Ayew, which can be a red card under a new controversial rule at the World Cup. The International Football Association Board law says that “any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.”
Earlier in the tournament, former Newcastle player Miguel Almiron became the first player to be dismissed under the rule for Paraguay against Turkiye -Sun.
