Union Saint-Gilloise will host AA Gent at the historic Joseph Marien stadium on Sunday in the final matchday of the Champions Playoffs. A win or a result matching that of title rivals Club Brugge—who face Antwerp at home—will hand Union the championship
The move, prompted by violent clashes after the Belgian Cup final last Sunday, has drawn criticism from Bruges Mayor Dirk De fauw (CD&V), who believes the decision is disproportionate
While it undeniably adds drama, the halving of points and the play-off format has been criticized for its perceived unfairness, with teams that performed well over the course of the season often facing an uphill battle in the final stretch
At the time of the incident, Club Brugge held a 2-1 lead against Charleroi. The match ultimately ended in a 4-2 victory for the home side, but celebrations were subdued as attention remained on Mignolet’s condition
If City fail to win, they could face an early exit from Europe’s most prestigious competition, a scenario that would undoubtedly raise questions over their ability to perform on the continental stage
