Fans have poked fun at Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid star was caught play acting during his side’s disastrous defeat by Real Betis.
The 22-year-old Englishman was caught by cameras appearing to fake being struck in the face by Sofyan Amrabat.
The pair were battling for possession and the Moroccan was emerging with the ball when a stray arm went towards Bellingham.
Slow motion replays showed if there was any connection at all it was miniscule but Bellingham reacted dramatically, throwing both hands up to his face before falling to the turf on Friday night.
He was given the foul and helped up by Amrabat, who looked in disbelief.
It was a disappointing show of gamesmanship by the Real Madrid midfielder and plenty of fans were scathing about what they saw as a clear dive.
Jude Bellingham went down clutching his face when there did not appear to be contact
One wrote: ‘These madrid players are not serious. Look at him Falling like something happened to him.’
Another posted: ‘So shameless and he still went down at first to demand pk.’
Dozens of other users called the action ‘pathetic’, with some calling for VAR to intervene when a player is caught feigning a foul or injury.
It was an embarrassing moment for Bellingham and Real Madrid on yet another night to forget for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
The 1-1 draw in Seville all-but ended their faint LaLiga title hopes.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side kept pushing for an equaliser and it came in the dying seconds.
Ferland Mendy went down under a challenge from Antony and appealed for a foul but the referee waved play on and former Arsenal defender Héctor Bellerín calmly side-footed home inside a packed penalty area to the delight of the 54,000 fans at Betis´ Estadio La Cartuja.
The result meant Madrid has failed to win five of their last six games in all competitions.
Betis, meanwhile, was in fifth place, six points ahead of Getafe and seven behind Atletico Madrid.
