BELGIUM have been hit by disciplinary action from Uefa after Dedryck Boyata wore the wrong shirt during the Euro 2020 qualifier against Russia.
Former Manchester City star Boyata started the second half wearing Michy Batshuayi’s top after a gaffe at half-time.
Dedryck Boyata mistakenly wore the number 23 shirt of Michy Batshuayi in the Euro 2020 qualifier against RussiaCredit: Getty – Contributor
The defender wanted to swap the number four jersey he had worn in the first 45 minutes for a fresh one after the break.
But instead of picking up his one, the 28-year-old defender somehow grabbed hold of the number 23 shirt which Batshuayi had been listed under in the official team sheets.
The yellow shirt even sported Batshuayi’s name on the back, but Boyata was oblivious to the problem.
Though it looks to have been a completely innocent mistake, the mix-up has landed Belgium in hot water with Uefa bosses.
They have hit the Belgian football association with a misconduct charge for breaking the strict rules governing the naming of players.
Uefa rules state: “Before each match, each team shall indicate in the relevant match sheet the numbers, full names, dates of birth and, if applicable, shirt names of the 23 players in the squad”.
The disciplinary committee are due to meet next month to rule on the case, and it is hard to see how Belgium will escape censure despite the breach not being intentional.
But the punishment is only likely to be a fine because it was an innocent mistake.
Uefa have charged Belgium after Boyata wore the number four jersey in the first half but number 23 after half-timeCredit: Getty – Contributor
Boyata baffles Belgium fans as he accidentally wears Michy Batshuayi’s shirt in first half vs Russia
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
