Dick Advocaat is surprised by the appointment of Bas Nijhuis as referee for Sunday’s top match between PSV and Feyenoord. For the first time since a controversial quarrel, the arbitrator is face to face with Roger Schmidt, PSV’s trainer. Lawyer is not afraid that Nijhuis will be ‘impressed’ by Schmidt, but finds it strange that the KNVB is planning the reunion between the fighting cocks for such a large poster.
“Bas Nijhuis is one of the top referees in the Netherlands. He whistles his match and is not impressed by Schmidt or by Advocaat, I am not at all afraid of that,” says Advocaat at the weekly press conference on Friday. “I find it very strange, but I am not at all afraid of it. I know what Nijhuis is like. He will not be intimidated by that. It is a strange situation that he is chosen for such a match, a top match. You can also say ‘We do PSV – Fortuna Sittard’, or whoever. “
Roger Schmidt looks ahead to Sunday’s game, Feyenoord – PSV
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Schmidt accused Nijhuis almost two months ago of deliberately whistling against PSV and the coach even said that the experienced referee would have said this explicitly. “The referee said after the game today that he was whistling against us because I had criticized him after Vitesse”, Schmidt said in January after the game against Sparta Rotterdam (3-5 victory). Schmidt’s harsh words after the game came as a total surprise to Nijhuis.
Schmidt’s harsh criticism of Nijhuis led to an investigation by the public prosecutor. The PSV coach was eventually suspended for two games, one of which was suspended. He missed PSV’s away match against FC Emmen (0-2) and then returned to the bench with the Eindhoven team on 31 January. At the press conference, the lawyer briefly looks back on the fight two months ago. “I don’t dare to go that far”, is the only thing the Feyenoord trainer says about it.
Schmidt announced earlier on Friday during the PSV press conference that the situation between him and Nijhuis is ‘not important’. “I don’t want to comment on it either. I’ve already said too much about it. I’ll stop, but I don’t need to talk to him. It’s not common,” Schmidt said, referring to his earlier statement that Nijhuis never has to speak again. “It must be about the game. That must be the focus. For me as well as for my team.”