LOOK. That was a long time ago: ref D’Hondt overrules VAR during the penalty phase in Antwerp-Genk, but whether that was justified… | Sport

An unleashed Antwerp soon finished 3-0 against the Limburgers, who immediately had to pay in cash for their lackluster start. In minute 45 they were able to do something back through Zeqiri (and a blundering Bataille) and in fact it could have easily been 3-2 at half time. During a corner kick in minute 48, Bryan Heynen went down after contact with Soumaïla Coulibaly, but ref D’Hondt did not want a penalty. Not even after he had consulted the screen on the sideline at the request of the VAR – a long time since we saw the head referee overrule his VAR again.

And that caused misunderstanding in the visiting camp. “I haven’t seen the images yet, but I have a feeling I’m being approached,” says ‘victim’ Bryan Heynen. “The VAR intervenes and usually does so at one point clear error, but now the ref stands by his decision. I’ll say it: I have not seen the images again, but I do have the feeling that I am being attacked,” said the captain, who is supported by coach Wouter Vrancken. “I think that penalty foul was obvious. He was pulled to the ground with both hands and the VAR also saw that. I don’t know why the referee didn’t follow him.”