Jude Bellingham could face FIFA punishment after appearing to slap Argentina substitute Valentin Barco in the aftermath of England's heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat.

The Three Lions looked on course for a place in the final after taking the lead through Anthony Gordon, only for Argentina to mount a late comeback and secure a 2-1 victory. Goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the contest on its head, sending the reigning champions through to face Spain in the World Cup final.

However, much of the post-match discussion has centred on events that unfolded after the final whistle.

Footage circulating online appears to show Bellingham approaching a group of celebrating Argentina players before striking Barco on the back of the head. The incident immediately sparked a confrontation between players from both sides, with Barco reacting angrily as teammates stepped in to prevent matters from escalating further.

The altercation drew further attention because it was not spotted by match officials during the game itself. That means FIFA could still review the footage retrospectively and determine whether disciplinary action is required. Any punishment could potentially affect England's upcoming third-place play-off against France.

Initial clips of the incident appeared to show Bellingham lashing out without any obvious provocation. However, fresh footage shared online has added more context to the situation.

One angle appears to show Barco saying something to the England midfielder moments before the incident occurred. Bellingham, who became fluent in Spanish during his time playing in Spain, seemed to react instantly to whatever was said before striking the Argentine player.

Additional footage from earlier in the match has also fuelled discussion. Barco, who remained an unused substitute throughout the semi-final, was seen celebrating Argentina's equalising goal close to England players and staff during the closing stages of the contest. Reports suggest his actions had already irritated several members of the England camp before tensions boiled over after full-time.

The confrontation quickly developed into a larger exchange involving several players. Veteran Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi was among those who intervened, while England teammates and coaching staff moved to separate the players and calm the situation. Goalkeepers James Trafford and Dean Henderson were also involved in trying to restore order as emotions ran high following England's elimination.

The defeat itself was a crushing blow for England, who had been minutes away from reaching their first World Cup final since 1966. Instead, Argentina completed a dramatic turnaround to keep alive their hopes of retaining the trophy.

As clips of the incident spread across social media, supporters quickly divided into opposing camps over whether Bellingham should be punished. One person commented:

“Y’all forgetting Jude speaks Spanish. He probably heard him saying something not think he would understand!”

Another wrote:

“Oh but they won’t punish Argentina for all the violent fouls that were being brushed off. :)))”

A third added:

“If he gets punished for this, Argentina have to get punished for everything they’ve done in the World Cup as well..”

Meanwhile, another fan argued: “It doesn’t matter what he said, that doesn’t warrant a slap. People chat sh*t on the pitch every day.”

With FIFA yet to make any official announcement, attention will now turn to whether football's governing body decides to examine the footage. Regardless of the outcome, the incident has added another controversial chapter to a night that ended in disappointment for England and left supporters talking about far more than the result itself.