Union Saint-Gilloise manager Sebastien Pocognoli publicly apologized. This development follows the news that a member of staff was sent off in a recent match against Genk for throwing a second ball onto the pitch. The episode flared up on Sunday during a dramatic finish in the game. Union were hanging on to a narrow 2-1 lead as the match entered the last moments of extra time.
When Genk launched a last-ditch counter, the hitherto unimaginable presence of the spare ball played havoc with their move. This forced Genk players to berate the referee, which resulted in the Union staff member being sent home. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has opened a disciplinary investigation into the incident. This inexplicable situation has caused jaws to drop at every corner of the league.
Several days later, Pocognoli told Streetsblog that the removal was not intended, and that he really regretted what had happened. The staffer’s identity remains a suspense. Moreover, the video evidence of the match makes it unclear as to who even threw the ball.
The incident gained widespread attention from Dutch media on Monday, intensifying calls for a return to appropriate decorum within professional football. KRC Genk midfielder Jarne Steuckers gave us a unique perspective on the matter. He called it crazy and likened it to actions typically experienced in a lower level football match, not one between two of the world’s best leagues.
“It’s not because of that we lost, but this is very unprofessional. You can do a lot to get a win over the line, but not this.” – Jarne Steuckers
The incident has opened a spirited debate about appropriate behavior by team personnel on game day. Fans, players and others are increasingly concerned about how these actions bend or break the integrity of the game. As investigations develop, Union Saint-Gilloise will be subject to an extensive examination of their operational protocols and staff training.
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