FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — England star Jude Bellingham is being investigated by UEFA over a potentially offensive gesture made during the European Championship win against Slovakia.
UEFA said Monday it appointed a disciplinary inspector to look at “a potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct.”
Bellingham seemed to make a gesture with his hand toward his crotch after scoring an acrobatic stoppage-time equalizer on Sunday as England went on to win 2-1 in extra time.
Bellingham's overhead kick with about 80 seconds left in the game saved England from a humiliating exit in the first knockout round.
If UEFA charges Bellingham, he risks being suspended for the quarterfinal against Switzerland on Saturday. However, judging by similar cases in the past, the midfielder is likely to escape with a fine if he is disciplined.
“Information on this matter will be made available in due course,” the UEFA said in a statement.
Bellingham took to social media late Sunday to deny suggestions he gestured toward the Slovakia bench.
“An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,” Bellingham wrote on X.
Five years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo — while playing for Juventus — and Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone were each fined 20,000 euros ($22,700) by UEFA for making obscene gestures during their Champions League matchup.
Disgraced former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales was also involved in a similar incident at the end of the Women’s World Cup final last August. He grabbed his crotch as a victory gesture while Queen Letizia of Spain and 16-year-old Princess Sofía were standing nearby.
That offense was overshadowed soon after when Rubiales kissed Spain forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent. Rubiales was barred by FIFA from working in soccer until after the men’s 2026 World Cup.
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY - England's Jude Bellingham gestures after scoring his side's first goal during a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Bellingham is being investigated by UEFA over a potentially offensive gesture made during a European Championship win against Slovakia. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
England's Jude Bellingham celebrates at the end of the round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
England's Jude Bellingham celebrates with Harry Kane, right, after scoring his side's first goal during a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
England's Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates with Harry Kane after scoring during a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
SAINT-VULBAS, France (AP) — Mark Cavendish broke Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record for most career Tour de France stage wins with his 35th victory on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old Cavendish sprinted for the win in the fifth stage of the Tour, pulling away some 100 meters from the line despite being bunched in. He crossed the line ahead of Jasper Philipsen and then jumped into the arms of a teammate.
Two-time champion Tadej Pogacar retained the race leader's yellow jersey, but the day belonged to Cavendish.
He equaled Merckx’s mark of 34 wins during the 2021 Tour and went close to No. 35 in the seventh stage last year when he was narrowly beaten to the line by Philipsen. He then crashed a day later and broke his right collarbone.
Merckx, the Belgian considered the most dominant rider in cycling history, won his 34 individual stages at the Tour from 1969-75.
Cavendish's decision to give it one more shot paid off.
“I just wanted to get the run-in to do it. I’m a little bit in disbelief. Astana put a big gamble on this year to make sure we’re good at the Tour de France," Cavendish said. "We’ve done it."
With his 2023 race ending early, Cavendish decided to put off retirement by a year and came back to try again.
Finally, Cavendish made cycling history — 16 years after winning his first Tour stage back in 2008.
Other riders were happy for Cavendish, with several stopping to speak with or hug him after the 177.4-kilometer (110-mile) leg from Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas
Merckx amassed his wins in the 1960s and 70s, an era during which his domination was such that he earned the nickname “The Cannibal.” Unlike Merckx, who won a record five Tours, Cavendish, who specializes in the sprints, has never won the overall title.
But Cavendish’s speed, prowess and longevity among his fellow sprinters have no equal at the Tour.
Cavendish won the Tour de France best sprinter’s green jersey twice. He also has won stages at all three Grand Tours — Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, Spanish Vuelta — and became a world champion in 2011.
Cavendish joined Astana after his contract with Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl expired and he was overlooked for the 2022 edition of the Tour.
AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling
Denmark's Mads Pedersen, rear, crashes as Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish, far right, sprints to the finish line to win a record 35th Tour de France stage win to break the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx in the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish celebrates his record 35th Tour de France stage win to break the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx in the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish celebrates his record 35th Tour de France stage win to break the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx in the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish celebrates his record 35th Tour de France stage win to break the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx in the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
FILE - Mark Cavendish of Great Britain reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Cholet and Chateauroux, central France, Wednesday July 9, 2008. Mark Cavendish broke Eddy Merckx's long-standing record for most career Tour de France stage wins with his 35th victory on Wednesday July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski, second left, and France's Clement Russo, third from right, rides in the pack during the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, follows teammate France's Pavel Sivakov, with teammate Britain's Adam Yates in third position and Italy's Alberto Bettiol in fourth position during the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish crosses the finish line for a record 35th Tour de France stage win, breaking the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx, in the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish crosses the finish line to win a record 35th Tour de France stage win to break the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx in the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish celebrates after winning a record 35th Tour de France stage win to break the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx during during the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Thomas Samson/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's sprinter Mark Cavendish celebrates after winning a record 35th Tour de France stage win to break the record of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx during during the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 177.4 kilometers (110.2 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Saint-Vulbas, France, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Thomas Samson/Pool Photo via AP)
