Approving Lennart Thy's late 2-2 at Ajax – PEC Zwolle (2-2) is a blunder by the arbitration, argues Mike Verweij of The Telegraph. The journalist made inquiries and concluded that the goal should never have counted. “A blunder by referee Joey Kooy and VAR Sander van der Eijk,” said Verweij on X.
In the 89th minute, PEC leveled against Ajax. Apostolos Vellios managed to tap the ball to Thy in the penalty area, who scored nicely with a bicycle kick: 2-2. The replay showed that Vellios briefly touched the ball with his arm before it reached Thy, but the goal counted.
?? Assist with a bicycle kick, goal with a bicycle kick! ??@PECZwolle takes a point against Ajax in the final phase ??#ajapec
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) December 17, 2023
ESPNreporter Pascal Kamperman explained afterwards that in his opinion it was a valid goal. The hand rule changed on July 1. “Now the rule is that it no longer has to be disallowed if the handball does not come from the goal scorer, but from a teammate before that. Then the handball must also be unconscious, then the goal remains standing. That is the point here case,” Kamperman ruled.
Verweij made inquiries himself and came to a different conclusion. “Despite other sounds, PEC Zwolle's 2-2 should have been disallowed,” says the journalist.
Made inquiries. And despite other sounds, PEC Zwolle's 2-2 should have been disallowed. (See rule about arm above shoulder). Blunder Joey Kooy and VAR Sander van der Eijk. Doesn't change that #Ajax considering shameful play has little right to speak. pic.twitter.com/gikxbFuvQ6
— Mike Verweij (@MikeVerweij) December 17, 2023
Verweij points to an additional addition to the FIFA regulations, which states: “It is still a violation if the player touches the ball with the hand/arm when that part of the body is above shoulder height.” That was the case with Vellios.
Verweij believes that Ajax still had little claim to the three points. “This does not alter the fact that Ajax has little right to speak given the shameful play,” the journalist concludes.
| No. | Team | M | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSV | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 45 |
| 2 | Feyenoord | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 38 |
| 3 | FC Twente | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 34 |
| 4 | AZ | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 33 |
| 5 | Ajax | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 25 |
| 6 | Go Ahead Eagles | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 23 |
| 7 | Sparta Rotterdam | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 22 |
| 8 | NEC | 16 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 21 |
| 9 | sc Heerenveen | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | -6 | 19 |
| 10 | Fortune Sittard | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | -11 | 19 |
| 11 | PEC Zwolle | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 18 |
| 12 | Excelsior | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | -5 | 17 |
| 13 | FC Utrecht | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | -9 | 17 |
| 14 | Almere City FC | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -16 | 16 |
| 15 | Heracles Almelo | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -19 | 15 |
| 16 | RKC Waalwijk | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -13 | 14 |
| 17 | FC Volendam | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -22 | 11 |
| 18 | Speed | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -25 | 11 |
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