There is again criticism of the Dutch arbitration from Spain. Although Sevilla secured the final of the Europa League at the expense of Juventus on Thursday evening, Danny Makkelie and Pol van Boekel have to pay for it in the media. The latter is particularly bad in Spain, according to him Mundo Deportivo Barcelona has been at a disadvantage during the group stage of the Champions League. Since then, video referee Van Boekel has regularly been the target of the Spanish sports newspaper.
According to Mundo Deportivo Sevilla should have been awarded a penalty in the first half on Thursday when Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado made an unlawful tackle on Sevilla midfielder Oliver Torres. “Makkelie did not see a penalty, but the most striking thing was that he was not corrected by the VAR. This is especially striking for someone like Van Boekel, because he is considered one of the best video referees in the world. He was also active at the World Cup in Qatar.” The sports newspaper therefore immediately thought back to the duel between Internazionale and Barcelona during the group stage of the Champions League.
? On field decision: ???? ????????????????
? VAR decision: ???? ????????????????What are your thoughts on Juan Cuadrado’s tackle on Oliver Torres? ????#UEL
— Super Sport?? (@SuperSportTV) May 18, 2023
“Earlier this year he was VAR for referee Dennis Higler and he missed a clear handball from Denzel Dumfries, which meant that Barcelona did not receive a penalty,” can be read. Barcelona eventually entered the knockout phase of the Europa League as number three in the group, in which Manchester United ultimately remained too strong. Mundo Deportivo sees Van Boekel as the main reason for the elimination of Barça in the billion dollar ball.
Dumfries makes hands in the penalty area, but no penalty is given ??
How? ?? pic.twitter.com/sGsVId9Uln— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) October 4, 2022
Monchi, technical director of Sevilla, was furious about the moment with Torres afterwards. “I don’t even have to think about this. You see the footage and the tackle is in the penalty area. Unless the rules have changed, which I don’t think they have, this is a penalty kick. This was difficult for the referee, the VAR should have corrected him. Anyway, that did not happen and we have to accept that.” Despite Van Boekel’s bumbling, Sevilla reached the final of the Europa League. AS Roma is the opponent in Budapest on Wednesday 31 May.