Gareth Bale facing 12-game ban over 'obscene gesture'
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale could be whacked with an extraordinary ban as a result of a goal celebration against fierce rivals Atletico Madrid.
Bale is staring down the barrel of a possible 12 match suspension because of a gesture he made toward fans during Real Madrid’s recent 3-1 derby win.
The 29-year-old Bale has been reported by La Liga to the Spanish Football Federation over his celebration after scoring Real Madrid’s third goal.
A statement on La Liga’s official website says Bale “moves his right arm up towards his head in a signal of provocation towards the fans, creating a possibly obscene gesture by moving his other arm and striking halfway up his right arm.”
That gesture is considered offensive in Spain and is akin to raising the middle finger.
Gareth Bale helped Real secure victory in the Madrid derby overnight with his 100th goal for Los Blancos.
But it was his celebration afterwards that enraged the Atleti support…#OptusSport #UCL pic.twitter.com/TOTD8b7cw9
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) February 9, 2019
Gareth Bale had a LEGENDARY celebration to the atleti crowd and no one said anything about it so here it is pic.twitter.com/KkoWeVXGaV
— Peter Rogers (@Peter_Rogers_) February 12, 2019
The statement says Bale could be suspended for four to 12 matches if he is deemed to have intentionally provoked the crowd. However, it could also be a shorter suspension — or no ban at all if his celebration is not deemed to be provocative.
The goal was Bale’s 100th for Real Madrid. He joined the Spanish club from Tottenham in 2013.
With AP