Referee who sent off Jude Bellingham for dissent is given unofficial two-match ban as Spanish officials deprive him of a game for second week in a row… with the England star also picking up a similar suspension

The referee who sent Jude Bellingham off for dissent will miss as many games as the England midfielder after he was not given a match for the second weekend running.

Jesus Gil Manzano blew his whistle just moments before Bellingham scored for Real Madrid against Valencia two weeks ago. He then sent Bellingham off when he protested.

Gil Manzano was not given a game last weekend seven days after his controversial blowing of time just as Bellingham scored what would have been the winner.

This week he was expected to return from the Spanish FA’s ‘fridge’ but the Technical Committee of Referees in Spain has further punished Gil Manzano by depriving him of a game for the second week running. This means his unofficial ban matches Bellingham’s official two-game ban.

Despite his reputation for being one of the best in Spain, and being the nation’s representative in this year’s Euros, Gil Manzano was criticized for his decision to rule out Bellingham’s goal.

Jesus Gil Manzano blew his whistle just  before Bellingham scored against Valencia before sending the player off for a vociferous protestation 

The Spanish official was left off the match list last week and faces a similar fate this time around

He first only appeared to add a minute extra to the added time despite a VAR check in added time taking nearly three minutes. He then let Madrid take a corner when that minute was already up. 

And, having let them take the corner, he then didn’t blow for time after the corner was punched away, instead whistling a second before Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz crossed for Bellingham to score.

Critics said he had broken the unwritten rule of not whistling when a team is in the middle of a possible goalscoring situation.

Bellingham was subsequently sent off for saying to the referee: ‘It’s a f***ing goal’. With international football coming next week, Gil will have gone three weeks without refereeing before his return.