Gareth Bale has been reported by LaLiga to the Spanish Football Federation over his celebration in Real Madrid’s 3-1 derby win at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
After scoring his side’s third goal in the 74th minute, the Real forward waved his right hand by his head before lowering the arm and then, as he began to raise it again, bringing his left hand down into the middle of it.
A statement on LaLiga’s official website said: “In minute 73 of the game, after Gareth Bale, number 11 of Real Madrid, scored his team’s third goal, some jeering is heard from the home crowd by the audio-visual recordings during the celebration.
👀 Gareth Bale could reportedly face up to 12 matches suspended after this celebration was directed to the Atletico Madrid supporters!#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/KZVuZ87FCy
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) February 14, 2019
“And he moves his right arm up towards his head in a signal of provocation towards the fans, creating a possibly obscene gesture by moving his other arm and striking halfway up his right arm.”
A statement offered by a La Liga committee chaired by Javier Tebas read: “In the celebration of Bale’s goal, he waves his right arm to the proximity of his head, in a predictable sign of encouraging provocation to the public, subsequently making a gesture of possible obscene and contemptuous meaning, raising the bent arm and hitting the middle of it with the other hand.
“The possible sanctions for these provocations vary.
“If it occurs, the offender will be sanctioned with suspension of four to twelve games, if the animosity of the public, the suspension will be from one to three parties or for a period of up to one month.”
The goal was the 29-year-old Wales international’s 100th for Real, who he joined from Tottenham in 2013.