Referee Abandons Belgian Pro League Match In 87th Minute After Being Hit By Cup

A Belgian referee abandoned a Pro League lucifer successful nan 87th infinitesimal aft being struck by a integrative cup thrown from nan stands.

Standard Liège were starring Royal Antwerp 1-0 erstwhile nan entity deed Lothar D’Hondt astatine nan Stade Maurice Dufrasne connected Friday. The lucifer charismatic past amazed nan players and dugout unit by blowing his whistle to extremity nan crippled pinch 3 minutes near to play. Those remaining moments will now beryllium played without immoderate fans successful attendance connected Monday afternoon, arsenic per a ruling by nan convention successful 2022.

The Belgian Pro League said: “This caller norm was introduced because we are pro-football and pro-competition. Fans tin nary longer return control. The sporting rule prevails: nan result of a lucifer is decided connected nan pitch, not connected nan court.”

Lothar D'Hondt speaks pinch Standard's caput coach Vincent Euvrard. Photograph: Bruno Fahy/Belga/AFP/Getty Images

Standard Liège’s sporting director, Marc Wilmots, a erstwhile head of nan Belgium nationalist team, was incensed by D’Hondt’s determination to wantonness nan match, telling nan broadcaster Dazn: “The players conflict each match, and because personification throws something, you rustle nan whistle? I’m disappointed, particularly for Belgian football. Now nan referees are nan stars. It’s starting to get connected my nerves.”

Standard Liège has identified nan protagonist who threw nan cup and said successful a connection they “will initiate civilian stadium prohibition proceedings against him, arsenic good arsenic an action for compensation”.

D’Hondt had already drawn nan lucifer to a halt for 10 minutes successful nan first half and directed nan stadium announcer to impulse fans to extremity throwing cups connected to nan pitch. The official, who oversaw Crystal Palace’s Conference League win complete Dynamo Kyiv, was stood connected nan touchline a protagonist threw nan entity astatine his back.

Plastic cups had been thrown connected nan transportation earlier successful nan crippled successful Liège. Photograph: Shutterstock

Standard, who were starring done an early extremity from Rafiki Saïd but were reduced to 10 men aft Adnane Abid was sent disconnected for a vulnerable tackle, are ninth successful nan Belgian Pro League, while Antwerp are successful 13th.