Anderlecht and Genk are set to replay their fixture after a disciplinary board found Genk's winner should have been chalked off for encroachment.
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- Game set to be replayed after VAR error
- Sets new precedent in Belgium
- Liverpool had asked for replay of game with Spurs
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Anderlecht's Kasper Schmeichel saved Bryan Heynan's 23rd-minute penalty but only parried to Yira Sor, who put in the rebound. However, Sor was judged to have encroached on the area and VAR recommended awarding Anderlecht a free-kick. After the game, a disciplinary board has said that the match should be replayed as VAR failed to spot two Anderlecht defenders also encroaching which meant the spot kick should have been retaken. Anderlecht went on to win the game 2-1.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The decision to replay the fixture sets a precedent in Belgium that is bound to cause ripples across Europe and waves in Merseyside. VAR's failure to overturn the decision to rule out Luis Diaz's goal for offside in Liverpool's defeat to Spurs prompted the Reds to call for the game to be replayed – the Premier League rejected the request.
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WHAT GENK SAID
Issuing a statement on the decision, Genk said: "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."
- (C)Getty Images
WHAT NEXT?
The decision to replay the game following a VAR error may set a dangerous precedent. Given the sheer volume of VAR errors, it may prove difficult to replay every game in which there has been a glaring error – particularly given how many managers feel aggrieved by decisions each week.
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