Filip Joos criticized Club Brugge player Mamadou Diakhon after an incident with STVV defender Robert-Jan Vanwesemael during a Belgian Pro League match, voetbal24.be reported.
Vanwesemael Sees Red After Full-Time Scrimmage
The fixture at the Jan Breydel Stadium saw Club Brugge secure a victory behind a hat-trick from Nicolo Tresoldi, but the talking point after the final whistle centered on an altercation between Vanwesemael and Diakhon, Sporza reported. Vanwesemael entered the match as a substitute in the 63rd minute, replacing Joedrick Pupe, before collecting a yellow card in the 71st minute. As the game concluded, a heated scuffle broke out on the pitch, resulting in Vanwesemael receiving a red card following an incident with Diakhon.
Analyst Defends STVV Defender Against Suspension Threat
Speaking on the television program 90 Minutes, analyst Filip Joos defended Vanwesemael and placed the primary blame on Diakhon for provoking the incident. Joos argued that officials failed to account for Diakhon’s behavior immediately prior to the shove, pointing out that the Club Brugge winger mocked opponents with gestures while in possession of the ball. “If Vanwesemael is suspended for this, I will drive my tractor to Brussels,” Joos said, describing Diakhon’s actions as kindergarten behavior. VoetbalPrimeur.be noted that Joos stated he would have preferred the referee to penalize Diakhon with a yellow card before any retaliation occurred.
Contrasting Views on Responsibility
While Joos directed his criticism toward the Club Brugge winger’s provocative play, former referee Serge Gumienny offered a stricter assessment of the STVV defender’s reaction. Gumienny noted that regardless of any preceding antics or a push from teammate Muja that brought Diakhon into his path, Vanwesemael carried the blame for reacting while already playing on a yellow card. As Gumienny observed in earlier commentary reported by Voetbalkrant.com, a player booked with a yellow card cannot afford to throw a physical shove in the final moments of a match.
Tresoldi Secures Points for Club Brugge
Tresoldi scored twice in the first half and added a third in the second half following a penalty from Ilias Sebaoui for STVV. Despite a late header from Shogo Taniguchi in stoppage time, Club Brugge held on for the win before the post-match incident involving Vanwesemael and Diakhon overshadowed the final whistle.
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