Referee Joey Kooij's performance during the Eredivisie match between Ajax and Go Ahead Eagles has sparked significant backlash from players, coaches, and fans alike. The match, held at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, ended with Ajax defeating Go Ahead Eagles 2-0, but it was the contentious officiation by Kooij, who is related to famous Ajax figure Frank de Boer, which drew ire from numerous spectators.
Go Ahead Eagles coach Paul Simonis was vocal about his discontent following the loss. He felt the match hinged on dubious referee decisions, particularly highlighting the offense leading to defender Gerrit Nauber’s two yellow cards—one of which he deemed excessive for the nature of the challenge. “Joey Kooij fluit hem terug. Dat hoort hij niet omdat er 50.000 man geluid maakt en dan trekt hij geel, dat vind ik een beetje te makkelijk,” Simonis stated, questioning Kooij’s judgment.
Supporters of Ajax also took to social media following the match, expressing their frustrations over Kooij's officiation. “Hij krijgt het elke week voor elkaar dat 22 spelers zich kapot ergeren aan hem,” one Twitter user remarked, encapsulating the widespread dissatisfaction over Kooij's repeated officiation style. This sentiment was echoed by various other fans, some even calling for the return of Frank de Boer to the club, presumably to preclude his son-in-law's officiation during Ajax matches.
The atmosphere throughout the match shifted dramatically after Nauber's first yellow card, which was awarded after what many deemed a trivial foul. Simonis remarked on the intensity with which his team played, stating, “Wat bij mij overheerst is met wat voor intensiteit wij hebben gespeeld. Dat we het Ajax 90 minuten lastig hebben gemaakt.” He expressed pride in his players, who managed to keep the scoreline close, with Ajax only scoring once during the initial challenging phases post-intermission.
Further compounding frustrations was Kooij’s decision to disallow what appeared to be Go Ahead's equalizing goal due to alleged handball by Julius Dirksen. Despite no clear foul from their perspective, the coaching staff was left bewildered. Simonis reflected, “Wij dachten dat het was om buitenspel en toen zagen we op onze beelden dat het geen buitenspel was. Maar we hadden even geen rekening gehouden met een handsbal.” With close assessment, it appeared Go Ahead was deprived of potential scoring opportunities due to unclear officiation.
Add to this the withdrawal of what seemed to be another legitimate penalty kick for Go Ahead Eagles after Kooij initially signaled for it, only to reverse the decision post-VAR review. Simonis spoke to the media with palpable frustration, articulately questioning the naturalness of the handball incident involving Ajax's Daniele Rugani. “Volgens mij is dit gewoon een penalty,” he asserted, reiterative of the growing sentiment among coaches feeling penalized by the inconsistency of refereeing standards.
Given the heightened emotions leading up to the match, combined with contentious decisions throughout, the implication of Kooij's role not only reflects upon him but continues to permeate through the growing concerns concerning refereeing standards across the Eredivisie this season. Observers and followers of Dutch football, especially supporters of both clubs involved, are left questioning Kooij's approach and potential bias stemming from his personal connections with the Ajax organization.
The spotlight now falls upon Kooij as he is likely to face rising scrutiny over his officiation performance, especially when considering the potential fallout from this latest match. Though many acknowledge the intricacies and challenges officials encounter, there is little doubt this match served as another focal point within the larger discussion surrounding the quality and authority of the referees directing Eredivisie matches.
Fans remain watching closely, poised for Kooij's future officiation assignments as they express hopes for fairer and more consistent match officiation. The fallout from this match not only piques interest within Ajax camps but may well dictate future emotional tides within Go Ahead Eagles' pursuits throughout the continuing season.