Jude Bellingham could face Fifa action after post-match clash

The dejected England hero clashed with Lionel Messi during the game and Valentin Barco afterwards.

Jude Bellingham could have landed himself in hot water with Fifa after a post-match clash with Argentina’s Valentin Barco.

England's Jude Bellingham appears dejected following the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match at the Atlanta Stadiumplaceholder image
England's Jude Bellingham appears dejected following the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match at the Atlanta Stadium | PA

The Real Madrid midfielder, from Stourbridge, appeared to slap Barco in the back of the head at the end of England’s heart-breaking semi-final loss to Argentina - leading to some pushing and shoving between both sets of players.

Bellingham confronted the Strasbourg defender as Argentina celebrated reaching a second consecutive World Cup final before being led away by his team-mates as Nicolas Otamendi and other Argentina players got involved.

The incident was caught on the main television feed, as well as by fans in the ground - which may force Fifa to intervene.

Bellingham also had words with Lionel Messi during the game and told TalkSport about that afterwards.

Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham argueplaceholder image
Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham argue | AFP via Getty Images

"We were discussing a foul actually, but it was nothing bad at all," he said. "I'm sure everyone will do their thing and make it a big deal but no, it was nothing big really.

"I thought it was a foul earlier and he said 'what about the one on me?' and I was just saying, 'you're strong enough to take them’. It's a privilege to play against him, it was nothing like that against him.

"Obviously I'm on the losing side, it hurts a lot but it a privilege to play against one of the best."

Comment Guidelines

Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Local news you can trust
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice