England goal hero Jude Bellingham had to be rescued by police after being mobbed by German fans on a lunch date with his mum.
The 21-year-old superstar – whose spectacular last minute overhead kick versus Slovakia on Sunday kept the Three Lions in Euro 2024 – popped into a restaurant in Erfurt, Germany, with parents Denise and Mark after the squad was given a day off to mix with WAGs and families.
Jude tucked into a Venezia pizza with salami and ham and drank a cappuccino and Coke in Ristorante La Piazzetta in a quaint square in the German city 20 miles from the team’s hotel in Blankenhain.
But he was spotted by locals who started chanting ‘Jude, Jude’ and after he emerged approached him asking for selfies.
(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
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He obliged but so many fans surrounded him he had to go back inside. The police were called to escort him to a waiting Audi.
American tourist Diane Goodman, 58, from Oregon, who witnessed the scene, said: “We knew the football championship was on and I’d heard of Bellingham.
“I follow the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer so it was great that he was in the same square. I had been in the restroom and the first I knew about it was when I came out and noticed the group across the square and all the shouting.
(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
“There were quite a number of fans watching by the time he came out.’’
It comes as UEFA have written to England star Bellingham asking him to explain his apparent X-rated gesture during the dramatic win over Slovakia.
UEFA bosses have also contacted the FA to demand an explanation regarding the superstar’s actions. Bellingham is under investigation for a ‘potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct’ following his last-gasp equaliser against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen at Euro 2024 on Sunday night.
Images show Bellingham appearing to cup his privates in a gesture directed towards the Slovakia bench. It’s understood European football’s governing body will also contact all those on the Slovakian bench to get their version of what happened.
All parties involved will be given 72 hours to respond. Bellingham could face a fine or even a ban if he is subsequently charged with misconduct and found guilty.
But FA bosses are confident the Real Madrid superstar will escape a ban – and that he might not even get dealt with until after Euro 2024 is finished. Bellingham took to social media to defend himself – and claimed the lurid act was a joke aimed towards friends sitting in the stands behind the Slovakian bench.