Kevin De Bruyne's clash with referee Rade Obrenovic was the moment that took over Belgium's 0-1 defeat to France in Brussels. In the 34th minute, De Bruyne was told to stay off the pitch for one minute after receiving medical attention, under FIFA's new anti-time-wasting rule. He pushed the referee's arm and shouted abuse, then later finished the night with a yellow card and a 63rd-minute substitution.
The one-minute rule and De Bruyne's reaction
The enforcement came in the first half of Belgium vs France, and the reaction was immediate. De Bruyne was not booked at the time of the incident, but the confrontation became the match's defining image long before the scoreline was settled.
The numbers around the evening point the same way. De Bruyne played 63 minutes, received one yellow card and ended with a 6.08 rating. That is a modest return for a player usually judged on much more than discipline, and it leaves the focus squarely on the row itself.
France's late winner
France did not need long after the flashpoint to land the decisive blow. Michael Olise scored in the 88th minute, his only shot on target, and France kept Belgium to zero goals.
There was also a separate debate around Roméo Lavia, who limped off in the 80th minute. Reporting later said it was cramp, while earlier coverage framed it as a possible injury, so the exact explanation remains split. Chelsea will at least have noticed the full extent of his night, since he played 85 minutes before coming off.
The result will stand, but the match in Brussels is already being remembered for the 34th-minute confrontation and the new rule that set it off.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
