Kevin De Bruyne reported to have sworn at and pushed referee during Belgium’s defeat by France

Kevin De Bruyne was involved in a late confrontation with the referee after Belgium were beaten 1-0 by France in Brussels in the UEFA Nations League.

The incident centred on a new rule requiring players who leave the pitch for treatment to wait for one minute before returning to the field.

De Bruyne, Belgium’s captain, is reported to have reacted angrily after the referee applied the regulation during the closing stages of the match. According to French outlet Foot Mercato, the Manchester City midfielder did not accept the decision to make him wait before re-entering the pitch.

Reports from Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws claimed that De Bruyne directed abusive language towards the referee and pushed him during the confrontation.

The incident occurred during a tense finish to a match Belgium were unable to recover after Michael Olise scored for France in the final minutes. The result gave France top spot in Group A of League A, while Belgium suffered a painful defeat in front of their home supporters.

France had appeared set to leave Brussels with a narrow victory after Olise’s late strike, and Belgium could not find a response before the final whistle. The result continued France’s strong start under Zinedine Zidane.

The new return-to-play rule is intended to apply when a player has received treatment off the field. Instead of being allowed back immediately once treatment is complete, the player must now remain outside for one minute before the referee permits a return.

That regulation became the focus of De Bruyne’s frustration on a night when Belgium’s disappointment was compounded by the late goal. His reported conduct towards the match official may lead to further discussion about his actions during the game.

France’s victory came in the second round of matches in the top tier of the competition and strengthened their position at the head of the group. Belgium, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a home defeat decided by a goal in the closing stages.