It is not inconceivable that a match of the Dutch national team at the upcoming European Championship will be whistled by Björn Kuipers or Danny Makkelie. UEFA has drawn up special corona rules for the final round on Thursday and at the fourth point on the list it is indicated that the the Dutch can get an arbitrator from their own country if a referee has to be replaced due to a corona infection.
Incidentally, according to the European Football Association, it only concerns exceptional cases. UEFA has also decided that the participating countries may substitute unlimited players in the final European Championship selection until the first group match. However, there is an exception for goalkeepers, who may also be called up by a national coach during the European Championship. It was recently announced to the world that the European Championship countries may call up not 23, but a total of 26 players for the tournament. Most countries are expected to release the list of names later this month.
UEFA also makes it clear in the manifest that every country must simply take action when thirteen fit players are available, including a goalkeeper. If that is not possible due to an outbreak of the corona virus, the game in question must still be completed within 48 hours. If there are still insurmountable problems, the country with the shortage of players will be awarded a regulatory 0-3 defeat. With this measure, according to UEFA, there is no difference between the group stage and the matches in the knockout stage.
For Makkelie it is the very first time that he is present as a referee at a major tournament, while Kuipers is preparing for his last European Championship as an arbitrator. The Dutch national team opens the final round with a match against Ukraine on June 13. This is followed by group matches against Austria (June 17) and North Macedonia (June 21). All group matches of the Dutch are played in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
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