“I don’t like that!”

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 21:10• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 21:17

Kenneth Perez criticizes the theatrical behavior of Bas Nijhuis during the match between Feyenoord and Heracles Almelo. The referee disallowed a goal from Luis Sinisterra in the first half after he was called to the side by VAR Marc Nagtegaal. Nijhuis clearly showed that he was reluctant to make that decision. “I don’t like that! Don’t whistle!”, is Perez’s reaction to Nijhuis’s attitude.

After a sloppy opening phase from both sides, it was Feyenoord that was the first to hit the net. Giacomo Quagliata lost the ball to Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who seemed to catch the left back of Heracles. Luis Sinisterra was then quickly brought into position by Fredrik Aursnes and the attacker scored. Although Nijhuis made it clear several times with gestures that he thought there was no violation by Jahanbakhsh, VAR Nagtegaal thought otherwise. The referee on duty disallowed the opening goal in minute eleven with visible reluctance.

Perez thought it was a violation, but is not happy about Nijhuis’s behaviour. “Draw your own plan,” said the Dane. “Don’t go there and see, little theater, which we do know about him. If you don’t think it’s a violation and you see that on that screen, don’t whistle! It seems to me that the one with the whistle is in charge. Maybe is it because otherwise he will later be called back by his boss, but at that moment he is the boss.But then he should not do that theater of: I don’t want to do that theater, but it’s the rules.“

The role of the VAR is also criticized by Perez. “What I especially think is that if the referee doesn’t whistle, then I don’t think it’s enough for the VAR to intervene here. When the referee whistles here, I say: violation, I understand that. But he doesn’t have to here. before being called to the side. I don’t think it’s a big mistake. Jahanbakhsh does come forward a bit and push his hands on Quagliata.”