Dennis Higler will be the referee at De Classic between Feyenoord and Ajax on Sunday, the KNVB announced on Tuesday. It is the first time that the 36-year-old arbitrator is allowed to whistle the top match between the two superpowers. Higler is assisted in De Kuip by Erwin Zeinstra and Mario Diks. Pol van Boekel will function as VAR in South Rotterdam, with an assisting role for Joost van Zuilen. Kick-off on Sunday is at 2.30pm.
The biggest game so far for Higler at club level was in 2019. He was the referee at the time for the Johan Cruijff Scale game. Ajax defeated PSV 2-0 more than two years ago. Higler has not drawn a single red card in the 17 games he has so far this season. The young referee made his debut at an international tournament at the European Championship last summer.
These are the appointments for next weekend in the @eredivisie and the @1st_Division! ?? https://t.co/HlRppvUVat pic.twitter.com/mbjm0k91vv
— KNVB (@KNVB) Dec 14, 2021
Due to the tightened corona measures, there is a very good chance that De Classic will be completed without an audience. Prime Minister Mark Rutte may present new measures for the football world at a press conference on Tuesday evening, but it seems unlikely that spectators will be welcome again in the short term at duels in the Eredivisie and Keuken Kampioen Division.
Ajax lost 1-2 to AZ on Sunday, while Feyenoord got no further than a 1-1 draw against FC Groningen. Both title candidates therefore start with 36 points in next Sunday’s squatter. PSV ultimately won 1-2 against NEC and therefore starts the seventeenth round in the Eredivisie as the leader.
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