Bas Nijhuis called Marc Nagtegaal after the match between Feyenoord and Heracles Almelo (2-1). According to Nijhuis, the commotion surrounding the decision to reject a goal by Luis Sinisterra has done something to his colleague. At the same time, Nijhuis emphasizes in conversation with TC Tubantia that Nagtegaal also learns from this.
Nijhuis let a block from Alireza Jahanbakhsh go against Heracles defender Giacomo Quagliata, after which Sinisterra scored in the same attack. Nagtegaal, the VAR on duty, decided after long deliberation to call Nijhuis to the sidelines. Nijhuis was visibly irritated by the decision to call him aside, but eventually whistled for a foul. The arbitrator does not blame Nagtegaal, because the VAR ‘may have an opinion’ and he himself is ultimately responsible.
“Anyway, it didn’t make me happy, but it’s my own fault. He is a young guy, it hits him harder than an experienced colleague. I called him and noticed that it had done something to him. His name is also mentioned all over the media after such an incident. I said I was mad at myself. But it is a large human world, he also learns from this,” says Nijhuis. He says he is particularly disappointed with himself, as he should not have disapproved of the goal in his own words.
“I’m stubborn, if I don’t agree, I don’t go. I already had a bad feeling when I got back on the field. I did not handle this well myself. I started to doubt: should I blow the whistle? So no, stupid of me”, says Nijhuis. Because the leader ‘can switch quickly’, he says he has had no problems at all with the criticism and commotion.
“My parents say, ‘Have you read this? And that?’ I’ve gotten used to it, it doesn’t bother me. There was a strong column about me in De Telegraaf on Friday,” Nijhuis points out to Valentijn Driessen’s column in The Telegraph. “About that I have to stay away from VAR, it ended more friendly. I texted the author that I thought it was a great column. I mean that too, I don’t mind. I’m going to go away for a few days now.”