Mario Been and Marciano Vink discuss a remarkable moment from the second half after the memorable Classic between Ajax and Feyenoord (3-2). Lisandro Martínez entered into a physical duel with Cyriel Dessers in the penalty area of Ajax, without the ball still being close to one of the two. “He got quite a beech,” says ESPNpresenter Milan van Dongen based on the images.
Referee Danny Makkelie was immediately convinced that no offense had been committed by the defender of Ajax. Help from the VAR was therefore not called in. “I have to say: I have to compliment Makkelie”, says Been initially. “He let a lot go on in this match, where it was half things. I don’t have a problem with that. I think he whistled really well.”
Still, Been is critical of the moment between Martínez and Dessers. Just before that, the Ajax defender had taken the ball from the Feyenoord striker and then looked for him again. “So I don’t think this is an intention at all to play a ball, if that’s what you mean, well…”, said Been. “Look, he’s just looking for him. This is a violation, within sixteen, you could say: this is a penalty.” Van Dongen thinks that the VAR would never have reversed a penalty kick that may have been given. “I don’t think so either, no,” says Been. Vink seems to agree, saying: “They won’t be giving a penalty for this anytime soon, but this is just totally unnecessary.”
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