Jude Bellingham has become the undisputed protagonist in the debate about Sunday's classic, following his controversial performance in the last match played against Celta.
The English midfielder was involved in a controversial action in his last match against Celta, which has sparked heated opinions. In Barça's locker room, there is a conviction that the referees and committees favor Real Madrid. Bellingham is the proof of it.
Bellingham's Controversial Background
Against Osasuna, Munuera Montero expelled him for "disrespect and contempt" after he threw the controversial "fuck off." The Competition Committee sought the lightest of sanctions.
They left his punishment at two matches. One less than Lewandowski for touching his nose and the same as Hansi Flick for raising his arm in disagreement with a referee's decision.
Bellingham would have faced between 4 and 12 matches. For that, the Competition Committee would have had to consider that his action was an offense or an insult, but they didn't see it that way.
Then, in the Copa final, he stormed onto the field hurling insults at the referee. He saw the red card, but the Competition Committee lifted it, considering Real Madrid's appeal. The report clearly explained what happened, but the Committee preferred to side with Real Madrid's version in their appeal.
When It Suits, Real Madrid's Opinion Carries More Weight Than the Referee's Report
When it suits, the referee's report is the only reference. When it suits, Florentino Pérez's version carries more weight.
The Competition Committee disavowed referee De Burgos. In the report, he wrote: "he approached our position in an aggressive manner, having to be restrained by his teammates."
The latest controversial episode was led by Bellingham in the Real Madrid-Celta match, with a sliding tackle on Fer López's shin. A week before the classic, referee Gil Manzano got scared and punished it with a yellow card. The violence of the tackle was similar to Mbappé's days earlier.
Bellingham Shouldn't Play the Classic
In the blaugrana locker room, they are very upset with the preferential treatment Bellingham enjoys. He is also a repeat offender in bad manners and protests. But he seems to have a referee's indulgence.
If they sanction him, the committees seem willing to consider Real Madrid's appeal and nothing happens here.
Bellingham shouldn't play the classic if Spanish soccer were governed by neutral and equal rules for everyone. That's what they think at Barça. But against that, which Real Madrid TV doesn't denounce, they also have to fight.