© Boumediene Belbachir
Anderlecht already announced that it would appeal against the decision of the Disciplinary Council for Professional Football to have the Anderlecht – Genk match replayed, but the club now announces that it will do this simultaneously through two procedures. Anderlecht goes to the Football Association’s Evocation Committee and also starts proceedings at the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Purple & White will go to both the Evocation Committee and the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport. “to obtain clarity and a final decision as quickly as possible in the interests of Belgian football,” the club said. “Only in this way can the smooth further course of the competition and a clear start to the play-offs be guaranteed.”
Anderlecht won the match 2-1 on December 23, but Genk asked to have the match replayed because referee Nathan Verboomen canceled a goal by Yira Sor because he had taken a penalty too early. But Anderlecht players also did that, meaning the penalty should have been retaken instead of awarding an indirect free kick to Anderlecht.
Genk was initially wrong by the Professional Referee Department, but was right on appeal by the Disciplinary Council for Professional Football.
Anderlecht in turn is contesting that decision on two fronts.
The point of the discussion is not whether the referee and VAR made the wrong decision, but whether they did so because they overlooked the Anderlecht player(s) or whether their mistake was not negligence, but an incorrect application of the regulations. In the latter case the match would have to be replayed.