Felice Mazzù will serve no suspension and face no further disciplinary action following a direct red card shown after a 2-1 defeat against Beerschot on Sunday.
The Post-Match Confrontation at the Kehrwegstadion
The trouble began immediately after the final whistle sounded at Eupen’s home venue. Mazzù grew furious because referee Simonini limited stoppage time to just four minutes. The veteran coach approached the fourth official, walking nearly nose-to-nose with the match official in a scene that quickly drew the attention of stewards and security personnel.
According to the referee’s official match report, the confrontation was deemed intimidating enough to warrant a direct red card, forcing Mazzù off the pitch. However, the report also noted that the Eupen manager did not direct any threatening or abusive language toward the officials. Instead, he subsequently approached the crew to calmly request an explanation regarding the timekeeping decision.
Federal Prosecutor Weighs the Circumstances
The federal prosecutor reviewed the incident and adopted a lenient stance toward the manager. Taking into consideration the lack of verbal abuse and Mazzù’s subsequent calm demeanor when seeking clarification, the disciplinary body decided against issuing any additional suspension.
Stricter Sanctions for the Coaching Staff
That leniency did not extend to the coaching staff. Assistant coach Jérôme Patris, who is the half-brother of player Louis Patris, followed his superior toward the officials to demand answers. Witnesses and officials reported that Patris’s demeanor was likewise judged to be intimidating, requiring physical intervention from stadium stewards to keep him away from the refereeing crew.
A Conditional Fine and One-Match Ban Proposed
While the head coach avoids an extended ban, the prosecutor proposed a stricter penalty for the assistant. Jérôme Patris faces a one-match suspension, which would be served conditionally with a suspended sentence, alongside a 250-euro fine. The disciplinary measure currently stands as a formal proposal, subject to the usual review procedures before becoming final.
