Van Persie’s Frustration Boils Over After Bizarre Incident in Eredivisie Clash
In a match that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, Heerenveen’s manager, Robin van Persie, found himself at the center of a storm of controversy. The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward, who took over the reins at Heerenveen in May last year, was left exasperated after a bizarre incident during their Eredivisie clash against Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.
The drama unfolded in the 88th minute of the match, with Heerenveen holding a slender 2-1 lead. Fortuna Sittard made a double substitution, bringing on Darijo Grujcic and Owen Johnson for Ryan Fosso and Jasper Dahlhaus. However, in a moment of confusion, Dahlhaus remained on the pitch, giving Fortuna an unfair advantage with 12 players on the field.
Van Persie, known for his calm demeanor, was quick to notice the anomaly and protested vehemently from the sidelines. Despite his protests, the game continued with Fortuna enjoying their numerical advantage for nearly a minute. To add insult to injury, Fortuna capitalized on this advantage, equalizing through a corner just moments after the incident, effectively snatching three points away from Heerenveen.
In his post-match comments, Van Persie did not hold back his frustration. “I find what preceded that goal very special,” he remarked. “Fortuna Sittard had 12 men on the field for a minute before that throw-in. Apparently that is allowed and possible. You can’t imagine that? That it is simply allowed.”
He continued, “Normally I never talk to referees and always let them do their job, but it can’t be that they play with twelve men. That’s unthinkable. So I asked the fourth official: ‘Shouldn’t you do something about that?'”
When pressed on what he believed should be done to rectify the situation, Van Persie was clear in his stance. “For example, reverse that goal. You can’t play with twelve men against eleven. I really can’t understand that. I think this is really scandalous.”
Van Persie’s Heerenveen side currently sits 10th in the Eredivisie after 21 games, a respectable position but one that could have been bolstered by a win against Fortuna. The incident has sparked a debate about the role of match officials and the need for stricter enforcement of substitution protocols.
Key Points from the Match:
- Heerenveen was leading 2-1 in the 88th minute.
- Fortuna Sittard made a double substitution, but one player failed to leave the pitch.
- Fortuna played with 12 players for nearly a minute.
- Fortuna equalized shortly after the incident.
- Van Persie called for the goal to be reversed, labeling the situation “scandalous.”
This incident has certainly added a layer of intrigue to the Eredivisie season, and it will be interesting to see how the league’s governing body responds. For now, Van Persie and his team will have to regroup and focus on their upcoming fixtures, hoping to put this bizarre episode behind them.
Originally Written by: ESPN
