Red Panthers face controversy after World Cup semi-final loss

The Belgian women's national field hockey team, the Red Panthers, were eliminated from the World Cup following a controversial 1-0 semi-final loss to the Netherlands. The Belgian side expressed intense frustration over officiating decisions, specifically regarding an annulled Belgian goal and a goal conceded by the Netherlands that they believed should have been disallowed.

Following the match, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) issued sanctions against players for their reactions to the officiating. Justine Rasir has been suspended and will miss the bronze medal match against Australia, while Alix Gerniers received a reprimand. The Belgian federation has expressed its indignation, with CEO Serge Pilet describing the situation as ‘undignified’ for a World Cup.

Despite the disciplinary issues and the loss, the team's performance was noted for its high technical and tactical level, bringing them closer to the world's top-ranked team than ever before. The Red Panthers will now compete for the bronze medal against Australia.