Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has expressed his frustration over the refereeing decision that nullified what could have been a last-second winner by Jude Bellingham in their 2-2 draw against Valencia on Saturday, deeming it an “insult.”
Valencia secured a two-goal lead within the first half-hour through Hugo Duro and Roman Yaremchuk. However, Vinicius Jr.’s two goals brought the LaLiga leaders back on level terms.
In the dying moments of the match, Bellingham believed he secured all three points when he headed Brahim Díaz’s cross into the net during the ninth minute of added time. Unfortunately, referee Jesús Gil Manzano had already blown the full-time whistle with the ball still in the air.
“We had possession. The play should stop when Valencia have the ball. It’s unprecedented. It’s never happened to me.
“We were annoyed with Bellingham’s red card. He didn’t say any insults. He said in English ‘it’s a f—ing goal,’ but he was just saying what we were all thinking … [The referee] allowed play to continue. I think he made a mistake.”
“[Bellingham] was clear in what he said. He was quite vehement [in his reaction] but that’s normal, after what happened. It wasn’t an insult, not at all,” Ancelotti said after the game.
The result means Real Madrid are now seven points clear at the top of the LaLiga table, with closest rivals Girona and Barcelona both in action on Sunday.
