Richard Keys questions Jude Bellingham for cutting holes in his socks

Richard Keys has called Jude Bellingham out for cutting holes in his socks as he continues to express his grievances over players performing the trend.

The Real Madrid star scored in the fifth minute of injury time to help England seal a 2-2 draw against Belgium on Tuesday night, after the visitors had taken the lead twice during the game at Wembley.

While Bellingham had missed several chances during the match, he once again proved that he is the man for the big moment, claiming the equaliser with a very cool finish.

Keys took to X (formerly Twitter) to lump praise on the 20-year-old, with the beIN Sports presenter writing: 'Jude Bellingham has got all the tools to become England’s greatest ever player. He’s pure class. Every day is a school day but what a player he is already.'

Despite his excellent performance, Keys noticed that Bellingham had cut several holes in his socks. In what has been dubbed as 'sock-gate', the television presenter has previously blasted several professionals for cutting holes in the back of their socks.

And on Wednesday, he also pulled the England midfielder up on the look, adding: 'Just one thing @BellinghamJude - the socks?'

Back in February, the 66-year-old blasted Conor Gallagher for cutting several large holes in the back of his socks during Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

'Enough of this nonsense,' Keys posted. 'There's no need for it. The Spanish have outlawed it (although Bellingham gets away with it). It's time we did.'

The trend appears to have first come to the attention back in 2018, when eagle-eyed viewers noticed Kyle Walker and Danny Rose cut several small holes in their socks.

It is understood that professionals cut holes in their socks to ease the pressure on their calves, improve blood flow and prevent cramp.

Ahead of Man City's 2-0 FA Cup victory against Newcastle in March, Keys again blasted players cutting holes in their socks, saying: 'It's gone too far.'

'I was interested to read an article by Gregor Robertson in the Times this week, talking about the nonsense about cutting holes in socks,' he said. 'Kyle Walker was one of the first. He went on to quite rightly make the point that it makes absolutely not a jot of difference. When you think about the fact that they sit in compression socks at the end of the game. It's ridiculous.'

'It's gone too far,' he added. 'There is not scientific or medical evidence that it aids blood flow at all.'

While LaLiga have frowned upon the look, with former Valencia player Ezequiel Garay once being asked to change his socks mid-game by a referee, stars around the Premier League, including Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish have been seen also cutting holes into their socks.

The beIN Sports presenter hit out at Gallagher's socks for a second time, calling on him to 'smarten up'.

'And so to sock-gate. I'm right. I know I am. The level of support I've had tells me I am,' he wrote.

'I asked a top medic again today why players cut holes in the back of their socks. He confirmed what I had previously been told.

'Apparently some believe the socks are too tight - and they stop the flow of blood to the calf. B******s.

'They don't wear anything on their heads do they but clearly the flow of blood is restricted to that area of some of these young men.'

Keys continued: 'It's got to stop. This weekend Conor Gallagher resembled the poor lad who plays on Hackney Marshes every week that can't afford kit. You're a professional man. Look professional.

'You don't see Messi or Ronaldo going round looking like they can't afford socks do you? Perhaps Gallagher believes that players shouldn't wear socks at all?

'Gallagher will be at Wembley this weekend - the spiritual home of Bobby Moore - the greatest England captain ever to have played the game.

'Bob never once looked anything but immaculate on a football pitch. I hope Gallacher [sic] understands that - like it or not - he's a role model who youngsters emulate and he could learn from Moore's example.

'I get it that times and fashions change. There's nothing wrong with that. But this trend is a nonsense. Smarten up man.'

Jose Mourinho has also criticised the growing trend, cryptically captioning a picture on Instagram of a player with a pair of holes in his socks: 'Beautiful socks for the Beautiful Game… Approved by the football authorities'.