The Belgian Jupiler Pro League’s top match between Club Brugge and RSC Anderlecht ended 1-1, but the game’s defining moment remained the controversial equalizer scored by Anderlecht’s Cvetkovic.
Jonathan Lardot later defended the decision not to award a penalty or disallow the goal, citing the “entire phase” of play.
Lardot Defends Refereeing Decisions
Lardot, speaking on DAZN, confirmed that both the on-field referee and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) made the correct call. The incident began when Club Brugge’s Brandon Mechele made initial contact with Cvetkovic. The Anderlecht striker then grabbed Mechele’s shirt, creating a duel that Lardot assessed as a single, continuous challenge.
“Brandon Mechele maakt de eerste fout op Cvetkovic. Die neemt vervolgens het truitje vast van Mechele. Het gaat over één grote challenge, één groot duel. Ik aanvaard de beoordeling van de ref in deze zaak, want Mechele is de eerste overtreder,” Lardot stated.
He explained that if a foul was to be called, it would have been a red card for Mechele and a free kick for Anderlecht. However, isolating parts of the action, such as Cvetkovic’s shirt pull, would be a mistake. Instead, Lardot backed the holistic view taken by the officials.
The Vanaken Penalty Incident
Another point of contention was a potential handball by Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken inside his own box. Lardot addressed this as well, asserting the same principle of chronological and contextual assessment.
Lardot noted that if one only looks at the hands of Vanaken, one might think a penalty should be whistled, but the full action must be considered. He added that Cvetkovic also does something and that while it is a strong duel, it is not a foul, meaning a penalty is not in order and the VAR should not intervene.
Vanaken had been “very forceful” in his criticism of the refereeing after the match, suggesting the VAR system should be abolished. However, Peter Vandenbempt described this reaction as “inappropriate,” noting that the VAR has also benefited Club Brugge in the past, such as in a match against Cercle Brugge.
Broader Context: A Wider Rivalry Gap
The match and its aftermath highlighted a growing gap between the two Belgian sides. Anderlecht received criticism for playing like a small team, a sentiment echoed by their own goalkeeper, Colin Coosemans, who admitted they did not play well. Anderlecht’s approach, as described by Vitor Bruno, was one of being humble, fighting, and solid.
Hans Vanaken's record illustrates this reality. The Club Brugge captain scored his 12th goal in the Jupiler Pro League against Anderlecht, breaking the record held by Paul Van Himst and Raoul Lambert, who each scored 11. Across all competitions, Vanaken has 16 goals against Anderlecht, surpassing Patrick Goots’ previous total of 15.
Club Brugge Regrets Dropping Points Against Anderlecht
The frustrations at Club Brugge go beyond a single refereeing decision. It was suggested that the club now views home matches against Anderlecht as “must-win” encounters, and the point dropped was particularly galling given that Anderlecht is a team that has long not been a competitor. The performance of Anderlecht, who were praised for their fighting spirit even when not playing well, has solidified this perception.
Club Brugge will look to regroup as they continue their season, while Anderlecht will aim to build on a point gained against a fierce rival, even if it was in controversial circumstances.
Why the Cvetkovic Goal Stood and Vanaken Avoided a Penalty
- Why was the Cvetkovic goal allowed to stand?
- According to Jonathan Lardot, the goal was allowed because the entire phase of play was assessed as one continuous duel where Club Brugge’s Mechele committed the first foul.
- Was there a penalty for handball against Hans Vanaken?
- No. Lardot determined that while Vanaken’s contact may have seemed like a handball, the full context of the duel meant it was not a punishable foul.
- Who holds the record for most goals in the Anderlecht vs. Club Brugge rivalry?
- Hans Vanaken now holds the record with 12 goals in the Jupiler Pro League, surpassing previous record-holders Paul Van Himst and Raoul Lambert.
Worth a look
