According to Sjaak Swart, there has been too much talk about the VAR moment around Noussair Mazraoui’s winning goal during the top match between PSV – Ajax (1-2). The fullback’s fine goal sparked some discussion, as it looked as if the ball went over the sideline leading up to the goal as Daley Blind tried to hold it in. “The two of them peeped for fifteen minutes: the ball was just in, it was a clean goal,” said Swart.
Ajax took the victory in Eindhoven on Sunday afternoon thanks to a debatable goal by Mazraoui. However, Swart does not understand the commotion that has arisen. “Have they gone completely mad? They only talk about whether the ball was out or not”, he reacts irritated to The Parool. “Everyone is confused about that VAR. The two of them peeped for fifteen minutes: the ball was just in, it was a clean goal. No one can see it with those images. They showed pictures yesterday that I would be behind the VAR: they should not whine, play nice football.”
In ? or out ?? @kennethperez10: “I think this is pretty clear” pic.twitter.com/0mQtxxV8qZ
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) January 23, 2022
“Ask that trainer (Roger Schmidt, ed.) who said on Sunday: ‘They should probably send that cup to Amsterdam.’ Well, he is right about that, because Ajax is the best”, shares Mister Ajax a sneer at the German trainer. “It’s just 2-1. It was a world goal with a fantastic attack. A very deserved victory from Ajax. Ajax wanted to play football and PSV wanted to defend. And then we don’t have to whine about whether the ball is over the line or not.”
Danny Makkelie gave after the game in front of the camera of ESPN text and explanation about Ajax’s winning goal. “My assistant immediately called out that the ball was still in. Then the game continues and Ajax scores a goal from that attack”, Makkelie looked back at the moment that occurred fifteen minutes before the end. “The PSV players indicated that the ball had been out, I was not able to see that from my position and the assistant indicates that the ball stayed in, so VAR will look at it. The VAR looked at the footage and said they couldn’t find a shot that showed conclusive evidence that the ball had gone all the way over the sideline.”
“It looks like the ball was out,” Makkelie continued. “But the tricky part is: that ball has a curvature. Then tell me if the ball is out or not. You can’t confirm that based on the image. Although it looks like it: the VAR has no proof that he has been completely over the sidelines. I know we’ve had a lot of these situations as umpires and the bulge of the ball can still hang above the line. I can show you pictures of other matches where the ball appears to be out, but according to VAR it is in.”