Why the referee’s thinking was conditioned as soon as Jude Bellingham muttered the F-word, writes PETE JENSON as Englishman’s red card plays into Real Madrid’s agenda

There is no doubt about the sort of welcome Jude Bellingham will be given by Real Madrid supporters on Wednesday night, the Spanish club sees itself as the victim of a refereeing conspiracy in LaLiga and his red card at the weekend has made him a champion of their cause.

What is far more difficult to predict is how his appeal against that dismissal for muttering ‘f*** off’ at referee Jose Luis Munuera – who has since been bombarded with online threats and abuse – is received lunchtime on Wednesday.