KVC Westerlo and KRC Genk should fear heavy penalties for their behavior in the last five minutes of extra time in their tit-for-tat match in Round 30 of the Jupiler Pro League. Really or not? Or could it have been heavier?
Players, coaches and clubs KVC Westerlo and KRC Genk are expected to appear at the Federal Prosecutor's Office on April 5, while Rik De Mel – now coach of Charleroi – will also have to answer to the Federal Prosecutor's Office.
This required the clubs to be imposed with heavy penalties (a €10,000 fine) and the suspension of Wouter Franken, Rik De Mel and other players Madsen and Kayembe for their behavior in the match between Westerlo and KRC Genk.
No points deduction because the clubs are not aware of it?
All other players will have to pay a fine, according to allegations by the Federal Prosecutor's Office. However, clubs can breathe a sigh of relief, because in sporting terms they are not being punished for what happened on the pitch.
KRC Genk and Westerlo do not receive a points deduction. Important, because this means that Genk remains in sixth place and can play in the Champions League play-off. Westerlo, for its part, has enough points to reach the European qualifiers and therefore does not have to play play-offs against Eupen, RWDM and Kortrijk.
The deciding factor, let alone match-fixing and thus punishing clubs with points deductions, among other things? This is a legal issue of liability. There must be evidence that the clubs were at least aware of the agreement.
Will decisive action save Westerlo?
The behavior of the Board of Directors of KVC Westerlo may have been a deciding factor in this matter. An analysis of their behavior in the catacombs during the match – very angry – and the immediate dismissal of coach Rik De Mel must indicate that they were not aware of the agreement and did not like it either.
This is different from the alleged talks between Waasland-Beveren and KV Mechelen a few years ago, for example. It is possible that the civil parties will still want to present themselves at the hearing held by the Federal Prosecutor's Office next week, but usually everything remains the same and so all teams can quietly start their playoff matches this weekend. He follows …
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