Following a VAR error resulting in a misapplication of the laws of the game, a football disciplinary body has determined that the match in the top tier of Belgian football between Anderlecht v Genk will be replayed in its entirety.
In the 23rd minute of the match, Genk forward Yira Sor seized the opportunity, capitalizing on teammate Bryan Heynan‘s missed penalty to score beyond the goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who had initially saved the spot-kick.
VAR disallowed the goal because Genk’s Sor encroached in the area but ignored encroachment by two Anderlecht players.
A Genk appeal based on the rules being “misapplied” by VAR was upheld.
Law 14.3 of the International Football Association Board states that if there is encroachment by both a defending and attacking player,
the penalty kick should be retaken regardless of whether the kick is scored or not.
Anderlecht eventually won the match 2-1 via a 91st-minute winner from Anders Dreyer on Dec. 23, 2023.
Belgium’s refereeing body had initially ruled that the match would not be replayed as they regarded the incident as a VAR error rather than a misapplication of the laws of the game.
However, Genk appealed the decision to the Disciplinary Council for Professional Football who overturned the refereeing body’s decision and ruled that the match should be 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,” Genk said in a statement.
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“The Disciplinary Council initially declared itself competent to rule on the matter.
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.”
Anderlecht trail Belgian Pro League leaders Union St.-Gilloise by eight points, while third-placed Genk are 13 points behind.
