Valentin Barco's wife has launched a scathing attack on Jude Bellingham, branding him 'useless' after the Real Madrid star slapped her husband following England's World Cup defeat to Argentina.
Wife's Social Media Outburst
Yaz Juareguy posted a photo on social media showing the moment Bellingham clipped Barco around the ear as he celebrated Argentina's advancement to the World Cup final. She captioned the image: 'It's better to do the talking on the field,' adding the word 'Muerto,' which translates to 'dead' in English but was used in a context closer to 'useless.'
After facing backlash, Juareguy deleted the original post but defended her husband in a follow-up: 'I didn't know that suddenly you can't celebrate goals, but you can endorse a violent person. Switch to a different sport if you're going to cry so much. Good day.'
The Incident on the Pitch
The clash occurred after England's 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. England had taken the lead through Anthony Gordon, but two assists from Lionel Messi to Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez sparked an Argentina comeback. During the celebrations, Barco, a former Brighton star, entered the pitch and was seen cheering in the faces of England players after Fernandez's equalizer. This provoked Bellingham, who slapped Barco on the back of the head as the match ended.
Reactions and Aftermath
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, criticized Barco's actions, calling them 'probably the worst example of sportsmanship we've seen at this World Cup.' Before the slap, Barco appeared to mouth something to Bellingham, and the pair were quickly separated by teammates and officials.
Fans were initially puzzled by Bellingham's reaction, but footage revealed Barco's provocative celebrations. The incident has sparked debate about sportsmanship and player conduct during high-stakes matches.
