Well as you all know I am an avid follower of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. And within this league KRC Genk is my club. While Genk belongs to the top 5, we are still seen as a smal(ler) club.
As a devoted supporter it is always hard to have an unbiased opinion about things in Football. And this week I really have problems with forming an unbiased opinion! So I do want to know what your opinion is about this matter!
The facts
In the dying minutes of the game between Genk and Gent a red card was shown to Genk player Malinovski! Genk was leading with 2-1 and Gent was increasing the pressure and chasing the equalizer.
Malonovski already scored twice and in the game and was trying to lure out a faul of Gent. He was standing at the corner flag with the ball between the corner flag and his body. We do see lot's of these kind of actions at the end of the game. Brecht De Jaegere (Gent) did pull Malinovski down. Malinovski decided to fall backwards and did fall on the De Jaegere. The ref did give the free kick to Genk, but after seeing blood in the face of the De Jaegere he did show the red card to Malinovski without a hesitation.
In the replay it can be seen that the studs of Malinovski did hit De Jaegere in the face, just below the eye!
I only found one video on youtube about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyfxEI9rt5E
The moment is shown at 2:40.
The saction
The procecuter office of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League did read the report of the referee and did judge that the physical integrety of the player was in danger and the action of Malinovsky could be career ending!
That is why he does a 7 game suspension ban!
My opinion
I did discussed this with a lot of people. Former players at higher levels, friends, supporters of Genk and even a supporter of Club Brugge but still it is hard to have an unbiased opinion!
I do think that Malinovski did have the change to fall to his right side in stead of his left. So with some effort he maybe could have avoided the contact. But there is no way that he did intentionally hit the Gent player in the face. Just at the moment his leg went back downwards, the face of the Gent player did come upwards!
The studs of proferssional footbal player are sharp and the skin on our face isn't. Add to this the fact the when the face bloods, it does blood harder and does show more servere than it actually is!
I am sure that the ref only showed the red card after seeing the blood on the face! While in first instance he didn't think about showing a card.
It is impossible to prove that this was a deliberate action. I do think that he wanted to fall on De Jaegere without the intention to hurt him!
So how is it possible that a 7 match suspension is asked? Strange because the play off last another 7 games. This stinks in my opinion.
I did see much worse tackles, which did get a deserved red card and only a suspension of 2 or 3 games. So how on earth can the prosecutor's office come to this conclusion.
Lot's of polls have been held and in all polls the opinion is that it was unintentional and that no suspension should follow! Even most of the analysts do share this opinion! So did even express that this really stinks! For sure if you know that this weekend Club Brugge and Genk will face each other!
In the same game I did see a tackle which really could be have been career ending, to bad I don't have any videos about that. This player got away with a yellow card and the VAR didn't react. Strange!
On Friday the verdict will be known. If they do suspend Malinovski for more than 4 games, Genk can appeal but this will not have as a result that Malinovski can play against Club Brugge. This only works if the suspension is 4 games or less!
So what is your opinion about this phase and do you think that a 7 games ban is justified?
Just like @btb, I am trying to write post which actually does give the people a change to interact with each other and discuss a topic!
Cheers,
Peter
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