L’Antwerp narrowly won against the Cercle Bruges (2-1) thanks to a whistled penalty five minutes from time. A penalty awarded following a handball foul by Thibo Somers. For our consultant referee, Stephane Breda, the decision is questionable. “When he touched the ball, Thibo Somers does not see the ball because he is behind and puts his arm in front of the opponent to try to hold it back. There is a gesture of the arm towards the ball, so in relation to the rule, the referee is obliged to give the penalty. But I think that’s something we have to change.” He pursues, “VAR must be there to correct indisputably questionable decisions. Here, no one asks for anything. I am convinced that if the referee sees it and there is no VAR, he lets play.”
Our consultant Alex Keys go further. “VAR invents penalties! I think it’s a shame because it does the refereeing a disservice.”