Five England players walking disciplinary tightrope with risk of Euro 2024 semi-final ban

England have five players walking a Euro 2024 disciplinary tightrope as they prepare for Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Switzerland.

Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Kieran Trippier, Phil Foden and Conor Gallagher will all be suspended for the semi-finals if they are booked and England win.

Central defender Marc Guehi is already suspended for the quarter-finals after picking up two bookings at the Euros, with Ezri Konsa currently first in line to replace him on Saturday.

Uefa rules state that players who receive two bookings at the Euros are suspended for one match before the slate is wiped clean for those players not facing suspensions on completion of the quarter-finals.

That means Bellingham, Mainoo, Trippier, Foden and Gallagher will not face missing the final through a second booking if England progress to the last four without them picking up a yellow card against Switzerland.

Uefa’s Article 54 says: “Cautions from matches in the final tournament that have not resulted in a suspension expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals.”

England manager Gareth Southghate will be desperate for his players to avoid suspensions, particularly Trippier, who has been standing in for the injured Luke Shaw at left-back.

England striker Ivan Toney acknowledged that he and his team-mates must be careful not to needlessly land themselves in trouble with the tournament at such a crucial stage.

Toney said: “Everybody has to be careful now. We don’t want to lose players to silly yellow cards. You have to control your emotions and watch your step. You just have to stay on top of your game and make sure you don’t get involved in any silliness.”

Bellingham is already waiting on the result of the Uefa investigation into his gesture after scoring his spectacular last-gasp equaliser against Slovakia in the last 16.

As reported by Telegraph Sport, Bellingham will stand by his explanation that his gesture after scoring against Slovakia was intended as an in-joke when Uefa quiz the England star on the matter.

As part of the investigation, Uefa plan to speak to Bellingham, who will reiterate his defence that the gesture was intended as an inside joke directed at some of his close friends who were at the game.

Bellingham posted a message on X after the gesture was spotted to that effect and he also celebrated in a similar manner after scoring for Real Madrid this season.

The message said: “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”

While the threat of a ban hangs over Bellingham, it is not expected that the England midfielder will be punished with a suspension, if indeed he is punished at all.

Slovakia are not thought to have made a complaint to Uefa about the gesture and have not commented on an investigation being opened on the matter.

A Uefa statement said: “A Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct by the English Football Association player, Jude Bellingham, having allegedly occurred in the scope of this match.”