A former referee is clear: Anderlecht was cheated at Stayen – All football

This Monday, one of the phases inevitably reviewed by the usual Under Review with Jonathan Lardot will be the expulsion of Mathias Jorgensen for his tackle on Ferrari. A red card strongly criticized by David Hubert, and with which Serge Gumiennya former referee, doesn’t agree either.

“With the naked eye, it was difficult to see who touched the ball first: Ferrari or Zanka. For me, Ferrari has the benefit of the doubt,” explains Gumienny, now a referee consultant, in The Importance of Limburg.

However, the Anderlecht player cannot be excluded, even if he comes second to the ball, believes Gumienny. “But even if Zanka did not touch the ball first, that did not warrant a red card. First of all, there was no ‘dangerous play’. Zanka’s tackle was neither dangerous nor aggressive, but controlled.”

There was no intention to hurt the opponent, assures the ex-referee. And that’s not all. “Also, it wasn’t a clear scoring chance. Ferrari didn’t have control of the ball at all. It would be even more ridiculous if Zanka had received a red card for being the last man on the line.”

For Gumienny, it is clear that VAR should have intervened after the on-field referee misinterpreted the situation.

“Nine out of ten referees do not consider it a red card. We then speak of a ‘obvious error’ and it is the role of VAR to help the referee. Or at least him give the opportunity to reconsider his decision by bringing him on the screen.”