Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 5:54 PM• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 17:59

Hans Kraay junior succeeded with pain and effort on Sunday afternoon in front of the camera of Danny Makkelie ESPN to get. The reporter really wanted to talk to the referee about some crucial arbitration decisions in the match between Ajax and Feyenoord (2-3), but Makkelie was very reluctant. The referee still came in front of the camera and fully supported his decision not to give Quilindschy Hartman, Feyenoord’s left back, a red card.

After his conversation with Makkelie, Kraay junior explains how that came about. “Our field producer asked nicely if he wanted to come. He listens carefully in the referee catacomb to what is being said by our analysts. All referees do that nowadays, we know that by now. He says: ‘I only want to talk about whether or not second yellow card for Hartman.’ Then he walked this way and he says: ‘No Hans, I only do the NOS, because you made a bit of, well, a mood at Ajax.'”

Makkelie meant by this that Kraay junior’s question to those involved at Ajax would have been suggestive. “I tell him: ‘The Ajax people have all responded neatly and very correctly. Both Heitinga, Berghuis and Tadic.’ He says, “I’m not coming.” I say: ‘I would like it if you would come.’ And then he still came. But he did not want to respond to Oussama Idrissi’s tackle (on Owen Wijndal, ed.).”

The conversation between the reporter and the arbitrator that followed was quite abrasive. So that was only about the moment in the first half when Hartman committed a foul on Mohammed Kudus. Hartman got away without a second yellow card and was immediately substituted. “Of course we have a new policy at the KNVB that referees no longer appear in front of the camera, unless there is a reason to clarify a rule again. I would like to explain this rule again,” said Makkelie.

Hartman stuck out his leg, but was too late and knocked down Kudus, who would otherwise have been gone on the sidelines. “In such a case, the referee must assess whether there is a reckless violation or a careless violation. In a reckless violation there is power and speed. Here the Feyenoord player sticks out his leg. That is a reckless violation: no yellow. When could it be yellow, Hans?” Makkelie continued, clearly refusing to be interrupted.

“Yes, I’ve seen the images. When could it be yellow, Hans? If he takes out a promising attack or counter through a careless foul. In this case it’s on the sideline, in his own half, far from the goal . There are still Feyenoord defenders around it. This is not a yellow card for me. And not just for me, for all my colleagues. And I am also an international referee. I don’t give such a yellow card there either. So also today not.”

Kraay junior responded: “Heitinga, Tadic and Berghuis all told me that they didn’t lose because of that, but you do have a bit of the pee in me, don’t you?” Makkelie was clearly not pleased with that question. “In you? That’s something we discuss off camera. I have a lot of respect for you, so I’m not going to do that here.”