Well, Brugge are out of the Cup thanks to another amazing example of Belgian incompetence
One of the QF games (Eupen v Gent) didn't have VAR because there wouldn't be enough cameras to record everything. So the FA decided it would be best if the other QF games also didn't have VAR
you just knew that somehow, somewhere this would come back to bite them
Now, for the Standard-Club Brugge game. It wasn't a great game by any means. Standard were poor, Brugge were still in COVID mode, a couple of players returned but clearly were not match fit.
Standard pretty much only created one clear chance, right after HT, and scored. The player who assisted on the goal was offside...but no VAR, so the goal counts.
With ten minutes to go, Brugge player Kossounou received a straight red. It was a harsh tackle, but he barely touched the player. Again, no VAR, so not overturned.
90+4th minute, Club Brugge gets a corner kick. Simon Mignolet going forward too. Corner comes in, Mignolet gets pulled down, Stefano Denswil heads the ball in, and forward David Okereke scores the tying goal. All players celebrating, referee whistles.. disallows the goal for a Mignolet handball(???). Huge protests occur, about a minute later suddenly the ref allows the goal.. Brugge players celebrating again.. another minute after that HE DISALLOWS THE GOAL AGAIN
Truly amazing to watch.
For a minute I thought the Brugge coaching staff and player were going to leave the pitch, but in the end they did play on but nothing happened anymore, apart from riots almost breaking out after the final whistle.
The ref already had a pretty shocking game but that ending truly takes the cake. It's madness. Not sure what's going to happen now. Such incompetence by the refs, by the FA...
Also a disastrous week for Brugge. Losing half the team to COVID, going out of the Europa against Kiev like that, then being robbed of a Cup semi final. I'm kinda lost for words atm