Romania’s national football team faced a disappointing defeat against Bosnia on March 21, 2025, losing 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying match. The game saw Romania dominate possession and create multiple chances, but a crucial moment came with a controversial decision from referee Danny Makkelie.
Makkelie failed to award a penalty when Benjamin Tahirovic handled the ball in the penalty area, igniting outrage amongst Romanian supporters and football officials alike. This decision was notably criticized by Ionuț Badea, former assistant coach of the national team.
In a harsh critique directed at the Dutch referee, Badea accused him of exhibiting narcissistic behavior during the match. He stated, “It’s a matter I haven’t spoken about, at least here, at this table, and it concerns the feeling of anger I have towards this referee, who has narcissistic tendencies. A metrosexual, which has nothing to do with people’s sexual orientation. Being metrosexual means you’re excessively groomed. I don’t know which gel and others,” he mentioned on Digi Sport.
Badea further expressed his belief that Makkelie’s personality traits negatively impacted his officiating, stating, “I’m not saying it’s bad, I’m just saying that this narcissistic tendency has caused him to surpass himself, but in a negative way. It’s him and the rest. I was enraged by the penalty incident, and I couldn’t help but be upset by the decisions he made on the field and his behavior towards our players.”
The match itself began with Bosnia taking an early lead in the 15th minute, leaving Romania scrambling to find an equalizer. Despite maintaining control for much of the game, Romania struggled to turn their possession into goals. The penalty miss proved pivotal, allowing Bosnia to hold on to their lead and claim victory.
Alongside Badea, Mihai Stoichiță, the technical director of the Romanian Football Federation, also questioned Makkelie’s decisions. He pointed out a concerning inconsistency in officiating practices, highlighting that if a handball is called outside the box, it should similarly apply within the area. Stoichiță questioned, “I have only one question: you call handball outside the box and then you don’t call it inside. How does that come about? If it’s handball outside the box, isn’t it in the box? What’s the logic? Handball is handball, wherever it is.”
Additionally, critics noted Makkelie’s leniency towards players from Bosnia, suggesting that he allowed time-wasting tactics to go unchecked, and was overly stringent on Romanian players for minor fouls. Romania’s fans and players grew increasingly frustrated with the officiating as the match progressed.
One notable incident occurred when Romanian player Mihai Popescu could have received a red card for a foul on Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko. Yet, no card was shown, adding fuel to the fire of claims against Makkelie’s impartiality.
The refusal to award a penalty for Tahirovic’s handball was the focal point of discontent, as many argued that the referee’s decision clearly favored the visiting team. After consulting the VAR, Makkelie ultimately decided not to issue the penalty and instead awarded a drop ball to Bosnia—an uncommon ruling that perplexed many.
As discussions surrounding Makkelie’s officiating abilities heat up, the Romanian fans and football analysts alike are calling for greater accountability and consistency from referees in such high-stakes matches.
The fallout from this match may influence how the Romanian team prepares for upcoming games, with key lessons learned regarding both their performance on the pitch and the importance of robust officiating. With the next qualifying matches on the horizon, Romania’s players and coaching staff will likely need to address these issues and rebound from this setback in hopes of better results.
It is clear that officiating plays a crucial role in the quality and outcome of football matches, and the scrutiny placed on referees will persist as fans remain vigilant. Romania may need to regroup and refocus while preparing for future encounters in their quest for a spot in the World Cup.
