Bellingham in half-time bust-up with Ghana boss Queiroz as England are held to 0-0 draw

Jude Bellingham clashed with Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz at half-time of England’s 0-0 World Cup qualifying draw in Boston, with the Real Madrid midfielder requiring team-mate Morgan Rogers to pull him away after a heated exchange near the Ghana technical area.

The incident was sparked moments before the break when Bellingham fouled Jerome Opoku close to Ghana’s dugout. Queiroz approached the England midfielder, words were exchanged, and several Ghana substitutes moved in as the situation threatened to escalate.

“He had a bad reaction with some bad names, that’s why the story started,” Queiroz said afterwards. “My intention was to tell him to cool down with that tackle. It could be a second yellow card, a red card, because he went with his foot against my player.”

Queiroz was measured when pressed on the specifics of what Bellingham said. “It was nothing special. It’s just that emotional moment — he had one word that is not in the book of life. It could create a little bit of fire. But immediately as professionals we pulled up. Football is something for brave people, not for people dancing in tuxedos.”

England assistant Anthony Barry accompanied Bellingham down the tunnel at half-time. The 22-year-old was substituted in the second half, replaced by Rogers, but England could not find the breakthrough against a Ghana side that defended resolutely throughout.

England manager Thomas Tuchel was relaxed about the episode. “No one got under our skin,” he said. “I think it’s normal. It was an exchange of emotions and Jude stood up for himself and for us as a team. There’s no problem with it. We were very calm at half-time. We knew that emotions are part of our game, but we don’t want to get distracted and involved with stuff that doesn’t help us.”

Despite the stalemate, Bellingham was voted player of the match by fans — an outcome the midfielder himself disputed. “It probably should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well,” he said. “I had a couple of moments but it was hard to get into the game. I’m grateful for whoever voted, but fair play to them.”

Bellingham also acknowledged England’s familiar pattern in qualifying campaigns. “Like always, second game fever with England — win the first one and do well, draw the second. But it’s OK. They played for a draw as it would have seen them through.”