Jobe Bellingham’s disappointing 2025 with Borussia Dortmund ends with two-match-ban

Jobe Bellingham’s straight red card in Sunday’s Bundesliga draw with Freiburg will cost the Borussia Dortmund professional two league fixtures. The German FA confirmed that Bellingham’s tackle on Freiburg’s Philipp Treu just outside the penalty area – a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity – merit a two-match-ban. Bellingham will thus miss not only next weekend’s crucial fixture against Borussia Mönchengladbach, but also the 2026 calendar year opener against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bellingham’s ejection took the wind out of a Dortmund side already beset by injuries and missing youngsters such as Julien Duranville and Cole Campbell due to lackluster training performances. Niko Kovac’s Schwarzgelben were unable to hold onto a slender 0-1 away lead against t he Breisgauer. Freiburg eventually equalized with the man advantage and Dortmund again dropped points. Bellingham’s disappointing start to life with his new Bundesliga club thus continues.

After a promising start in the summer club World Cup and a strong training camp , Bellingham found himself the subject of some irritation at Dortmund when his father Mark entered the private team area to argue about how his son was used tactically in a 3-3 opening day draw with St. Pauli. Through 14 Bundesliga matchdays, the now 20-year-old has only featured in Niko Kovac’s starting XI five times.

Kovac did take care to emphasize that he did not blame Bellingham for a key piece of sloppy defending during a matchday seven loss to Bayern Munich. The Birmingham-native has still rarely started since and still awaits his first appearance on a Bundesliga scoresheet. Bellingham has recorded two assists in the Champions League, but has yet to record a goal or assist in either the league or in the cup.

With regard to the disappointing end to 2025, BVB keeper Gregor Kobel has ultimately taken responsibility for Bellingham’s straight red. Kobel admitted that he put Bellingham in a bad position with a risky pass out of the back. The English youngster’s tactical foul on Treu was the result of Kobel’s action.

“I n the end, I have to make sure I play a better pass, ” Kobel told German broadcaster DAZN . “ It’s a shame for him that he’l be suspended now. I take responsibility for that, I have to play the ball better. Misunderstandings happen in football unfortunately. “

GGFN | Peter Weis