Fans fear ‘dangerous precedent set’ as top-flight match to be REPLAYED after ‘significant VAR penalty error’

FANS fear a “dangerous precedent has been set” after a top-flight match in Belgium was ordered to be REPLAYED following a “significant VAR penalty error.”

Anderlecht beat Genk 2-1 in December’s controversial game, netting a 91st minute to seal all three points.

AFP

Anderlecht vs Genk will be replayed after a major VAR error[/caption]

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Genk should have been allowed to retake a penalty before they went on to lose[/caption]

However, the game was overshadowed by a bizarre penalty incident in the first half.

Genk had the opportunity to go ahead, but Bryan Heynan saw his spot-kick saved by Anderlecht goalie Kasper Schmeichel.

Teammate Yira Sor then pounced on the loose effort before firing it into the net.

But VAR recommended Nathan Verboomen disallow the effort.

Replays showed that Sor was inside the box when Heynan took his penalty.

And the goal was subsequently ruled out, with Anderlecht getting a free-kick.

However, VAR failed to spot in the same replay that two Anderlecht players had also encroached while the penalty was being taken.

Under the laws of the game, Genk should actually have been allowed to re-take their spot-kick.

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And a football disciplinary body has now ruled that Anderlecht and Genk must replay the match in full following the error.

The Disciplinary Council for Professional Football made the decision following an appeal by Genk, who are fifth in the Belgian Pro League and eight points behind second-place Anderlecht.

Referee chiefs had already dismissed the idea of a replay, but that has now been overturned.

A statement from the DCPF read: “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. 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.”

However, fans fear the move could set a dangerous precedent across European and world football.

Several Premier League games have seen controversial VAR decisions this season, most notably Tottenham’s win over Liverpool which had a legal goal disallowed.

One said: “Insanely dangerous precedent.”

Another declared: “The basic concept of VAR was to minimise human errors.”

One noted: “If it happened here there would be three games replayed every week.”

Another yelled: “Might get refs to buck up their ideas.”

One chimed in: “If this happened in the Prem the season would never end.”

Another added: “Anderlecht to beat Genk through a 91st minute winner again.”

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