Officials rule top-flight match must be replayed due to glaring VAR error

27 January 2024 , 12:35

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An error from Nathan Verboomen means that Genk's defeat to Anderlecht must be replayed (Image: Vincent Van Doornick/Isosport/MB Media/Getty Images)

Belgium's Disciplinary Council for Professional Football has ruled that Genk's defeat to Anderlecht must be replayed in full due to a VAR error.

Anderlecht won the original clash 2-1 back in December, but only after a misapplication of the laws of the game. The incident occurred after 23 minutes of the match had gone, when Genk thought they had scored.

Bryan Heynan had stepped up to take a penalty, but saw it saved by Anderlecht keeper Kasper Schmeichel. Genk star Yira Sor followed up to put the ball beyond former Premier League title winner Schmeichel.

But replays showed that Sor was inside the penalty area as Heynan struck the ball, leading to the VAR recommending that referee Nathan Verboomen should rule the goal out. In a catastrophic error though, the replay had also shown two Anderlecht players encroaching.

According to the Laws of the Game, if "a player of both teams offends, the kick is retaken unless a player commits a more serious offence". A more serious offence was not committed, so the penalty should have been retaken.

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Instead though, Verboomen awarded Anderlecht an indirect free kick and ruled out Sor's goal. The hosts would go on to win the game thanks to a goal in the 91st minute from Anders Dreyer, leaving Genk furious.

The visitors complained to Belgium's refereeing body, who initially ruled that the match should not be replayed. The body regarded the incident as a VAR error rather than a misapplication of the laws.

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Verboomen ruled out a crucial Genk goal after misapplying the rules around penalties (VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Genk appealed the decision, taking their case to the Disciplinary Council for Professional Football. They have now ruled that the refereeing body's decision should be overturned and the match replayed in full.

"The Disciplinary Council for Professional Football has ruled that the Anderlecht - KRC Genk match at the end of last year should be replayed. The Disciplinary Council initially declared itself competent to rule on the matter," Genk said in a statement.

"This overturned the earlier decision of the Professional Referee Department not to replay the match. The Council then followed KRC Genk's argument that the match officials misapplied the rules at the penalty phase in question. KRC Genk hopes that a date will be found soon to replay the match."

Taking away the three points they earned in the original game, Anderlecht would be second, 11 points behind Jupiler Pro League leaders Union St-Gilloise. Genk currently sit in fifth place and would be five points behind Anderlecht if the original result is annulled.

It is not yet known when the game will be rescheduled, with both the Pro League and Anderlecht so far yet to make a comment on the Disciplinary Council's decision.

Jacob Leeks