Jobe Bellingham received a straight red card during Sunday’s Bundesliga match against Freiburg
which will result in him missing two league matches for Borussia Dortmund. The German Football Association has ruled that Bellingham’s tackle on Freiburg’s Philipp Treu, just outside the penalty area—considered a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity—is worth a two-match suspension. Consequently, Bellingham will be sidelined for next weekend’s pivotal match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, as well as the opening match of 2026 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The dismissal of Bellingham dampened the spirits of a Dortmund squad already
plagued by injuries
.
Niko Kovac’s
Schwarzgelben were unable to maintain a slim 1-0 lead against the Breisgauer, with Freiburg taking advantage of their extra player to equalize. This adds to Bellingham’s underwhelming experience at his new club in the Bundesliga.
Are Dortmund still backing Jobe Bellingham?
Following
a strong showing in the summer club World Cup
and
a solid training camp
,
Bellingham has encountered some discontent at Dortmund after
his father Mark confronted staff about his tactical use in a 3-3 draw against St. Pauli
.
Over the first 14 Bundesliga matchdays, the now 20-year-old has only started five times for Niko Kovac.
Kovac has made it clear that he does not fault Bellingham for a defensive lapse during a matchday seven loss to Bayern Munich. Despite this, Bellingham has rarely been featured as a starter and is still looking for his first Bundesliga goal. While he has achieved two assists in the Champions League, he has yet to provide any goal contributions in the league or cup.
In light of the disappointing ending to 2025, BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel took responsibility for Bellingham’s red card, admitting that his risky pass put the young player in a precarious situation, leading to the tactical foul on Treu.
“I have to make sure I play a better pass,” Kobel said in an interview with German broadcaster
DAZN. “It’s unfortunate that he will be suspended as a result. I take full responsibility for that; I need to play the ball better. Misunderstandings happen in football, unfortunately.”