Kees Kwakman believes that Yassin Oukili should have been sent off the field during the remainder of RKC Waalwijk – Ajax. The RKC midfielder committed a serious foul on Kristian Hlynsson, but was given a yellow card. A mild punishment, Kwakman thought.
Ajax seemed to be in danger in minute 86 – the match resumed in minute 83 – through Hlynsson, but the counter was taken out by Oukili, who brought the Icelander down. The midfielder was clearly too late and applied the emergency brake.
“That was a dirty foul, not nice to see,” Kwakman said afterwards ESPN. “You immediately saw it in Berghuis' reaction. He (Berghuis, ed.) saw it well in my eyes. I don't think he should do that, make a gesture from the VAR, but this is really a dirty violation. “
Kwakman would not have been surprised if a red card had been drawn. “I have to admit that I'm quite quick about that,” he continues. “There are people who think it's not too bad. The sequel isn't too bad in the end, his ankle doesn't double, but he (Oukili, ed.) consciously tries to hit him that way. A strange violation.”
“He just can't reach the ball anymore. I don't mind if you try to take out a counter and tap someone to put him down, but he does it with his studs forward. I think it's a very strange foul. it suits my eyes well.”
Cristian Willaert seemed to agree with Kwakman. “It's a foul that you don't think much about at first, but if you look closely… The rule is that a referee can give red if a player's health is at risk.”
Immediately after the violation, Berghuis made a VAR gesture to Oukili. Last Thursday, the midfielder and winger was himself sent off in the away match against Olympique Marseille after VAR intervention.