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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Tedesco refused to blame VAR for defeat</li><li>Belgium saw two goals ruled out</li><li>Suffered a shock loss against Slovakia</li></ul>

'I want to be a fair loser' - Domenico Tedesco refuses to blame VAR for shock Belgium defeat to Slovakia despite TWO Romelu Lukaku goals being disallowed

The Red Devils suffered a major setback in their opening match of Euro 2024 as they shockingly <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/belgium-player-ratings-vs-slovakia-euro-2024-romelu-lukaku-kevin-de-bruyne/bltd88e9886e98ffa8d" target="_blank">went down 1-0 against Slovakia</a> courtesy of a seventh-minute strike from Ivan Schranz. Belgium found the back of the net twice, however, both attempts were ruled out by VAR.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite the frustrating outcome, manager Tedesco refused to blame the officials as he claimed he did not want to sound like a sore loser. He even backed VAR and the referees for doing their job fairly as he accepted the loss gracefully.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking to reporters after the match, the head coach said: "It’s tough for me to speak now. If we would have won, I could probably share my opinion a little more. But we lost and I want to be a good or at least a fair loser; we shouldn’t be talking about VAR. We trust these guys, we trust the VAR and the referees and if they blow and say it’s handball we have to trust and accept it and that’s that."

WHAT DOMENISCO TEDESCO SAID

Belgium will hope to get back to winning ways and keep their hopes alive of making it to the knockout stage as they next face Romania on Saturday.

WHAT NEXT FOR BELGIUM?

'I want to be a fair loser' - Domenico Tedesco refuses to blame VAR for shock Belgium defeat to Slovakia despite TWO Romelu Lukaku goals being disallowed | Goal.com

Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco did not want to blame the VAR for their loss against Slovakia on Monday.

&apos;I want to be a fair loser&apos; - Domenico Tedesco refuses to blame VAR for shock Belgium defeat to Slovakia despite TWO Romelu Lukaku goals being disallowed