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Barco tried to provoke England’s stars after Enzo Fernandez’s goal
New footage has revealed details that could explain the altercation between England star Jude Bellingham and Argentina’s Valentin Barco after the two teams’ clash in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Tango.
and:Television cameras showed Bellingham lightly kicking Barco on the head after the final whistle.in a shot that caused wide controversy, especially since it appeared at first glance without the direct provocation of the Argentinian player.
😱 AFTER BELLINGHAM’S HANDOVER WITH ARGENTINA PLAYERS.#OurBestWorld #OurBestWorld @jfelixdiaz @as_tv: pic.twitter.com/9Y8rlgG2TL
— Diario AS (@diarioas) July 15, 2026
Celebration in front of England team players
However, a video shared after the game reveals an incident during the game that could be behind the Real Madrid player’s reaction, the paper said.The sun“.
After Enzo Fernandez equalized in the 85th minute, a number of Argentina substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate, including Barco.
While most of the players headed for the goalscorers, Barco ran straight towards the England players and jumped in front of them in celebration in a way that caused tension before defender John Stones forced him off the bench and back to the bench.
— clever (@ahmeddey4u) July 16, 2026
Perhaps that shot lingered in Bellingham’s mind before he responded after the match was over.
The match after the final whistle
After the referee blew the final whistle, Bellingham approached Barco and lightly tackled him, forcing the Argentine to turn quickly and engage in a tussle with him, before veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi stepped in to support his partner and defuse the situation.
The refereeing team did not monitor the incident during the game, but reports have indicated that FIFA may review the video, which could open the door to disciplinary action against Bellingham.
If FIFA decides to punish the England midfielder, he could be in jeopardy for Saturday’s third-place match against France.
Who is Valentin Barko?
Valentin Barko is a well-known name to English Premier League followers, having played 7 matches with Brighton’s main team before moving to France’s Strasbourg last season.
The player has been impressive for the French side, whether at left-back or in midfield, and reports suggest he is keen to join Chelsea in the current summer transfer window, although a deal has yet to be officially announced.
