Anderlecht in appeal against suspension Kouamé, who threatens to miss a top match against Club | Sport

Exclusion sufficient. That was what Anderlecht hoped to achieve for Christian Kouamé yesterday afternoon. The Ivorian was ruled out on Sunday for a tackle on KV Oostende’s Frederik Jäkel – he hit him on the knee (watch the phase above from 2’50”). According to the Referee Department, the red card was justified, and that is disputed by the Purple & White not even, but the record champion thinks a suspension is disproportionate, and that was also the tenor for the Disputes Committee.

“Christian had absolutely no intention of committing a violation,” said Anderlecht’s lawyer. “In addition, the intensity was low and the Ostend player was not in Christian’s field of view. We also point out the honest and respectful way in which Christian handled the referee’s decision. He hardly protested during the game itself and did not complain to the ref afterwards either. We also want to point out that Christian has a clean criminal record. He is not a dirty player.” That’s right: Kouamé has never been shown red before.

Afterwards Kouamé himself briefly spoke: “I only had the intention to play the ball. I was surprised when I got a red card.”

Unlike Anderlecht, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office thought that Kouamé deserved a punishment. Just like Monday, it asked for two matchdays of matchday suspension, one of which was conditional, and a fine of 1,500 euros. “Because it was too dangerous an intervention”, was the motivation during the session.

The Disputes Committee followed that line of thought and imposed a suspension of two matchdays on Kouamé, one of which was conditional. Kouamé seems to miss the top match against Club Brugge, but Anderlecht will appeal, which will take place on Friday.