Allard Lindhout has apologized for an incident in the Twente derby between FC Twente and Heracles Almelo (1-1). After the game, it was not only about the points division, but also a decision by the VAR fifteen minutes before the end. Referee Lindhout reversed a penalty kick awarded to Twente after the ball was not completely still at a kick by Joël Drommel prior to that situation. The moment sparked a lot of discussion on Twitter, where it was claimed that Lindhout did not act according to protocol. The arbitrator appeared in front of the camera after the game to answer.
The protocol prescribes that a video referee should attend a so-called moving ball is not allowed to intervene, but is allowed to have his say if requested by the official referee if he has signaled the moment. “It did not go well, that is the conclusion I have to draw”, Lindhout tells opposite ESPN. “I walk away with my back when Drommel wants to take the ball, so I do not realize that the ball can roll somewhat and therefore does not lie still. I will certainly blame myself for that. Whether the protocol should change? referees are designed. That is often thought, but we are not at the drawing board. “
Lindhout was made aware of the incident by the video referee. “He is not allowed to”, Lindhout continues. “And I followed him and I should not have done that. The VAR did not have the rules ready and neither did I at the time. It is a factual moment. It can be determined on screen. There is no interpretation. the fact is, you get the information and you act on it. Again, I didn’t do that well. I blame myself for walking away with my back to the situation and blame myself for following the VAR. The VAR is upset, just like me. I think it is good to evaluate it very well. “
Robin Pröpper soon realized that the situation was wrong. “We immediately asked the referee if he wanted to watch it”, said Pröpper in front of the camera afterwards ESPN. “We saw the bank immediately jump up, then you have to use that to your advantage to turn it back. It’s not allowed by the rules, so you can do it this way.” Drommel admits that the ball was not still. “But the referee said after the game that he had not seen it. I asked for it. There will be a whole attack, it is strange that they turn it back completely. Last week we could come to 1-1 and the referee also wrong I think. Now we don’t get a penalty again. “
??? Referee Allard Lindhout through the dust … pic.twitter.com/Y32PTcfUU0
– ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) May 8, 2021
Ron Jans thus saw a possible hit by his team pass his nose. Just before the penalty moment, Heracles took the lead thanks to a nice header from Mats Knoester. After the much-discussed moment, Twente even pulled the stand via Danilo. “That is very sour and fits the year 2021 of FC Twente”, Jans referred to Lindhout’s reversed decision. “I have no influence on this. Wormuth said: ‘I’m just trying.’ I think the ball also moved, but I didn’t see it at the time. I have strong suspicions that referee Lindhout didn’t see it either.”
Drommel’s kick-out eventually ended up via Ramiz Zerrouki at the substitute Queensy Menig, who was pushed to the ground by Giacomo Quagliata. While Danilo was ready to take the penalty kick, Lindhout reversed the situation. “Some things happened before the penalty kick fell”, Jans continues. “How far can you turn something back? We have a lot in hand, but not this. We have had a lot of moments this season that are crucial. The VAR is meant to correct major mistakes and that happens regularly. But this is not the VAR, this is someone sitting there and not knowing the rules. “