Jude Bellingham slaps Argentina player during post-match clash after England’s World Cup defeat

New footage has emerged appearing to show Jude Bellingham slapping Argentina’s Valentin Barco around the back of the head after the final whistle of the disastrous World Cup semi-final match.

Breaking hearts across the nation, the Three Lions crashed out of the 2026 World Cup after losing 2-1 to Argentina.

It started off well - shortly after the second half, England went 1-0 up after a goal from Anthony Gordon sending the crowd into a frenzy.

However, the jubilation was short lived, with Enzo Fernandez getting an equaliser in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez sealing England’s fate with a goal just before the full-time whistle.

During the match, tensions flared between the two nations - which was expected - and Bellingham was seen locked into a heated exchange with Lionel Messi in the first half.

Now, footage has emerged showing those tensions boiling over as Bellingham appeared to hit Barco on the back of the head once the game had ended.

In a clip caught by a journalist from Spanish outlet Diario AS, Bellingham could be seen standing alone as he came to terms with his team’s defeat before an Argentinian player approached him and shook his hand.

The player then headed towards a gaggle of his teammates including Barco, who was an unused substitute in the match, to continue celebrating.

Things then turned ugly, as Bellingham approached the players and appeared to slap Barco on the back of the head prompting him to turn around in surprise and shove the England midfielder.

Footage from BBC also caught the moment, and showed Bellingham and Barco being split up by Nico Paz before Nicolas Otamendi rushed in and pushed Bellingham away.

Take a look here:

It seems as though the post match antics went unnoticed by officials, but it does leave the 23-year-old open to potential disciplinary action from FIFA.

Meanwhile, Argentina could also be at risk of being punished by FIFA after players unfurled a banner that claimed the Falkland Islands belonged to Argentina during post-match celebrations on the pitch.

FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which sets the rules for the game, have a clear policy when it comes to political “Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer’s logo,” IFAB’s rulebook states.

“For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA.”

Alongside that, FIFA’s stadium code of conduct prohibits ‘any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.’

If the banner is deemed to be political in nature by officials then the players involved could find themselves facing punishment.

With the win against England, Argentina have now lined themselves up for a World Cup final against Spain this weekend.

LADbible has approached FIFA for comment.