Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has downplayed Jobe Bellingham’s suspension from the Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Real Madrid, insisting the teenager will have plenty of future chances to face older brother Jude.
Jobe, 19, was set to meet Jude Bellingham in a highly anticipated sibling showdown on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. But the Dortmund midfielder picked up his second yellow card of the tournament during their 2-1 win over CF Monterrey on 1 july, ruling him out of the last-eight tie.
The booking came in the 28th minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a foul on Nelson Deossa — curiously, the same minute he was booked in Dortmund’s 1-0 group stage win over Ulsan HD.
“He was very disappointed,” said Kovac. “I think he didn’t realise at the time that a second yellow means suspension. At half-time he was a little surprised.”
Despite the missed opportunity to see the brothers go head-to-head at the FIFA Club World Cup, Kovac remains optimistic.
“He’s still young. His brother is also young. I’m convinced they will face each other again — maybe next season in the Champions League, and many more times in the future,” said the Dortmund boss. “The Club World Cup would have been a great stage, but it’s fine — someone else will step in.”
Jobe Bellingham, who joined Dortmund in june from newly-promoted Sunderland in a €33 million deal, was taken off in the 55th minute as a precaution, with Kovac citing the physical nature of the match.
“I didn’t substitute him because of performance,” said Kovac. “He already had a yellow card and it was a very physical game — I didn’t want to risk him picking up another.”
Jude Bellingham, 22, spent three seasons at Dortmund from 2020 to 2023 before moving to Real Madrid. His side now prepare to face his former club in what will still be a headline quarter-final — just without the family face-off many had hoped for.