Union SG’s Reserve Keeper Launches Ball onto Pitch During Genk Match; Kitman Wrongly Accepts Responsibility

Union Saint Gilloise, in their pursuit of the Belgian title, has uncovered the true identity of the individual responsible for throwing a ball onto the field during a critical moment in their recent victory over Genk in the Pro League playoffs.

This tactic to waste time elicited a wave of disapproval, sparked heated discussions on television, and somewhat overshadowed Union’s 2-1 away win, which levelled them with Genk on 40 points in the league standings.

The incident occurred when a ball was thrown onto the pitch from the Union bench as Genk, having just scored a goal, was mounting one last effort to turn the match around, resulting in a stoppage due to the rogue ball on the field.

Initially, the blame fell on Union’s kitman, Ibrahim Fadili, who was sent off; however, it has since been revealed that the actual culprit was reserve goalkeeper Vic Chambaere, a former Genk player.

“Our equipment manager was incorrectly sent off for this incident. After internal discussions this morning, we found out that it was our goalkeeper Vic Chambaere who kicked the ball onto the pitch,” the club stated on Tuesday.

“This behaviour is something that Union strongly disapproves of, and it does not align with our values or those of our supporters. While we will always compete fiercely on the field, we prioritise respect and fair play, both during and after matches.

“This morning, our management had discussions with our technical staff and player Vic Chambaere. We also extend our apologies to the match referee and our opponents for the incident of throwing the ball onto the pitch in the dying moments of the game.”

The outcome allowed Club Brugge to claim the top spot in the standings, now holding a two-point lead and setting up a thrilling three-way title race with just four rounds of matches remaining.

The 22-year-old Chambaere, who transferred from Genk at the start of the season, is anticipated to receive a four-match suspension, while Fadili may face a two-match ban for “misleading the referees by taking the fall,” according to reports from Belgian media.