The arbitration of Mr. Laforge is at the center of the debates this Thursday evening. Let’s take the events one by one.
After 32 minutes of play, while Zulte Waregem leads 1-0, Fabio Silva remains on the ground. The attacker gets up and, on the following phase of play, without there being the slightest stoppage in play, he equalizes. But that was without counting on the intervention of the VAR.
The latter analyzes two phases. First, an unobvious and open to interpretation offside from Arnstad on Silva’s goal. Then, the fault suffered by Fabio Silva in the rectangle 29 seconds earlier. It takes long minutes for Mr. Laforge, yet aided by various video slow motions, to make a decision.
The latter falls: no goal for the RSCA, but a penalty for the Mauves and a yellow card for Derijck, author of a sole however violent to say the least. It’s red, normally!
Misunderstanding reigns, but Fabio Silva equalizes in stride on the penalty kick. It’s 1-1.
Debast excluded? Well no !
In the stoppages of the first act, it is a reprehensible action (?) of Debast which is at the center of the conversations. The young Anderlechtois is guilty of a fault and Mr. Laforge does not hesitate: he takes out a red card. Before being recalled by the VAR.
Why ? Because for the VAR, the exclusion is not clear. The referee goes to see the fault on video and reconsiders his decision: no card at all for the Mauve who therefore does not return to the locker room just before his teammates. Note that he had already been warned earlier in the match…
Once again, misunderstanding reigns, even if the decision seems, this time, logical.
Arnstad ruled out after VAR intervention
As if that weren’t enough, the VAR returned to the 72nd. He called Mr. Laforge for a foul by Arnstad in the middle of the game. After watching the video, the referee showed a red card for a direct hit by the Anderlechtois.
Although the latter grumbled, indicating that he was held at the start of the phase by Tamberou, his gesture was violent and useless. Logical red card, so…