Club Brugge have lodged a complaint against Anderlecht, arguing that their rivals fielded too few Belgian footballers on the match sheet. The move has sparked debate in Belgium, and Club’s leadership, led by Bart Verhaeghe, is prepared to accept the backlash that comes with it.
Club are well aware that the complaint will not make them popular with many supporters and observers. In the eyes of the club’s top brass, that is a price worth paying. Even if Club had won the match in question, they say they would still have taken this step.
More than two points
Two extra points would be a welcome boost in the title race, but the complaint is also meant as a message. Club want to signal that the standard for Belgian football needs to rise, and that clubs should be held to a higher bar when it comes to the involvement of domestic players.
Was there another way?
The question is whether the same goal could have been reached in a different manner. Club’s approach has divided opinion, and it remains to be seen whether a formal complaint is the most effective tool for changing the way Belgian clubs build their squads.
Source: www.hln.be
