RSC Anderlecht faces scrutiny following loss to Olympique Lyon

RSC Anderlecht's defeat against Olympique Lyon has sparked significant debate regarding squad rotation and officiating decisions. Following the match, coach Vitor Bruno faced criticism for his lineup choices, though the team's core structure appears to be stabilizing.

Controversy centered on a late incident involving Serbian forward Mihajlo Cvetkovic. After scoring a goal to bring Anderlecht back into the match, Cvetkovic was involved in a collision with Clinton Mata in the penalty area five minutes before the end. Despite a VAR review, referee Ricardo de Burgos did not intervene.

Former referee Alexandre Boucaut described the lack of a penalty as ‘ununderstandable and inexplicable,’ noting that the physical contact warranted a decision. Boucaut suggested that while UEFA guidelines aim to limit VAR interventions to clear and gross errors to maintain game flow, the failure to act in this instance sends a confusing signal regarding player conduct and officiating standards.