Sir Geoff Hurst has criticised the conduct of Mark Bellingham, the father of England internationals Jude and Jobe, after a heated confrontation with Borussia Dortmund officials earlier this season.
The World Cup-winning striker, now 83, said Bellingham senior’s behaviour “disgraced” the game and warned that parental interference at the elite level could become damaging for young players.
Hurst, who remains the only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, made his comments at a public event in Bristol, where he discussed the modern state of English football.
“A thing that has irritated me is a picture in one of the papers about the most powerful man in English football — and it’s Jude Bellingham’s father,” Hurst said.
“He was complaining when his son was taken off in a game — and that is an absolute joke. If you don’t eradicate that kind of thing, that is an absolute disgrace.”
The remarks come after reports that Mark Bellingham confronted Borussia Dortmund officials following Jobe’s substitution during his debut for the club in August.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who joined the German side from Sunderland in a £33million deal, was withdrawn at half-time during a 3-3 draw with St Pauli.
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Sir Geoff Hurst has criticised the conduct of Mark Bellingham, the father of England internationals Jude and Jobe, after a heated confrontation with Borussia Dortmund officials earlier this season
|PA
Witnesses claimed that after the final whistle, Mark waited in the tunnel and voiced his frustration directly to Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl in an emotional exchange about the decision to remove his son.
German outlet BILD reported that Bellingham also sought to speak with head coach Niko Kovac and “made no secret of his opinion.”
The club has since introduced tighter restrictions around the dressing room area, preventing family members from entering post-match.
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Mark Bellingham was furious with Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac for subbing son Jobe Bellingham earlier this season
| GETTYDortmund’s managing director Lars Ricken downplayed the episode at the time, insisting that while the discussion was passionate, it did not escalate into a serious dispute.
“The family flew in especially for Jobe’s first Bundesliga game and wanted to meet him afterwards,” Ricken said.
“They had an emotional conversation with Sebastian, which is not a problem at all given our relationship. But in future, only players, coaches and officials will have access to the locker room area.”
Hurst’s criticism reflects growing unease in the game over the influence of parents on their children’s professional careers, particularly when those parents also act as agents.
Mark Bellingham, a former West Midlands police sergeant, represents both Jude and Jobe in contractual and sponsorship negotiations and has been central to managing their careers.
His involvement has drawn attention in recent months, with reports suggesting that Borussia Dortmund’s hierarchy are increasingly conscious of his presence.
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The timing of Hurst’s comments coincides with personal upheaval for the Bellingham family.
It was recently revealed that Mark and his wife, Denise, have separated after more than 20 years of marriage.
The couple, who were once hailed as the driving force behind their sons’ success, had been living apart for several years — Mark with Jobe in Germany and Denise with Jude in Spain, where the 22-year-old midfielder plays for Real Madrid.
At the same Bristol event, Hurst also spoke about the current England setup and expressed a preference for a home-grown manager.
While he praised Thomas Tuchel’s credentials, he said success would ultimately define the German’s tenure.
“You have to strongly argue that the managers who have had the best results for our national side have been English, starting with Sir Alf Ramsey,” Hurst said. “I generally prefer to have a national manager who shares the same nationality as the players. But if Tuchel does well next summer and we do well at the World Cup, he will have done a fantastic job. It just comes down to results.”