Controversies Surround Referee Danny Makkelie Following Recent Matches

omidbasir- Danny Makkelie has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. Initially, his performance during the AZ-Ajax match raised eyebrows, but the decisions made during the Heracles Almelo vs. NAC game this past weekend have drawn even greater criticism. In a discussion on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat, the focus largely centered on Makkelie’s demeanor, while ESPN commentator Vincent Schildkamp offered an intriguing theory regarding the KNVB’s potential political motivations.

During the match in Almelo, fans expressed outrage at Makkelie’s officiating, particularly his significant impact on the crucial relegation battle that ended 0-1. He faced backlash for failing to issue a red card to Lewis Holtby after a severe challenge on Djevencio van der Kust’s shin. Shortly thereafter, Makkelie awarded NAC an easily contested penalty following a perceived handball by Van der Kust, who had the ball strike his hand from close range. Clint Leemans’s successful penalty kick ultimately decided the match.

Vincent Schildkamp speculated that there may be underlying political motives at play: “There seems to be a political aspect involved. The KNVB is eager to see Dutch referees officiate at the World Cup. If referees in the league are consistently overruled by the VAR, that could reflect poorly when it reaches FIFA. I genuinely believe this is a factor,” stated the ESPN correspondent.