Beale's suspension looms over Zulte Waregem's upcoming clash

Zulte Waregem will meet SK Beveren next weekend without their English manager Michael Beale on the touchline, as the Engelse trainer has been handed a suspension following the heated red card he received in the recent encounter with Union Saint‑Gilloise.

Suspension after red card

The Englishman was sent off against Union Saint‑Gilloise and subsequently received a ban that will keep him off the bench for the SK Beveren game. Reports claim he shouted “you fucking cunt” at referee Lothar D’Hondt, a charge Beale firmly denies. The disciplinary committee confirmed the suspension will apply to the next league fixture.

Beale said the incident has drawn attention away from his side’s strong performance against Union. “It is actually a pity that we have mainly talked about this misunderstanding this week. My team put in a very strong performance when visiting Union, but did not get all the attention it actually deserved,” he told Het . The red card has sparked debate in the Belgian press over player‑official relations.

While rejecting the alleged profanity, Beale expressed remorse for his reaction. “At the same time I regret my reaction. I should not have reacted so emotionally in that phase, but on the other hand I also think it is important that I could make clear that I indeed did not say the words that have been put in my mouth,” he said. He made the statement in a post‑match interview with Het .

Beale also described his own demeanor during the incident. “I myself stayed very calm at that phase, because I immediately noticed that the referee whistled directly. The VAR took some time to review the footage, but just like Union’s bench I had already understood that the referee had prematurely stopped the phase and that we should not harbour too much hope,” he explained. He added that the VAR review confirmed the referee’s decision.

Team’s early season form and upcoming fixture

Het Belgische Zulte Waregem has begun the season excellently, recording a win over KRC Genk followed by a draw away at Union Saint‑Gilloise. The side sits comfortably in the upper half of the table after those results.

The suspension means De Engelsman will not be on the bench when Zulte Waregem takes on SK Beveren, a match that will test the squad’s resilience without their manager. The club will rely on its recent momentum to secure points in the upcoming weekend clash.