Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham has been suspended for two Bundesliga matches following his sending-off during Sunday's 1-1 draw with SC Freiburg.
The Incident That Led to Dismissal
The 20-year-old Englishman, younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, was shown a red card in the 53rd minute at the Signal Iduna Park. The dismissal came after a foul on Freiburg's Philipp Treu. The situation developed after Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel lost possession, presenting Treu with a clear run towards goal. At the moment of Bellingham's foul, Dortmund were leading the match 1-0.
Sports Court Verdict and Immediate Consequences
On Monday 15 December 2025, the German football federation's sports court confirmed the suspension, officially categorising the challenge as "unsporting behaviour". This ruling marks the first time Bellingham will miss a Bundesliga game since his high-profile transfer from Sunderland in June.
As a direct result of the ban, he will be absent from two crucial league fixtures:
- The home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday.
- The away trip to face Eintracht Frankfurt on 9 January.
A Mixed Start in Germany
This suspension punctuates an inconsistent beginning to Bellingham's career at the club where his elder brother rose to global prominence. Since his move, Jobe has featured in all 23 of Dortmund's games this season across all competitions. However, he has been named in the starting lineup for only 10 of those appearances.
He made his debut at the Club World Cup at the end of last season, scoring in his second outing for the club. Despite that early promise, he has not found the net again for Dortmund in competitive action.
The timing of the red card may add to the midfielder's frustration. It occurred on the same day his former club, Sunderland, secured a memorable 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby. The Black Cats, who have impressed since their return to the Premier League, won thanks to an own goal from Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade.
