Excelsior coach Dijkhuizen angry about the lack of second red Ajax: ‘This is unprecedented’ | Football

After the 2-2 draw, Dijkhuizen pointed out a serious foul by Anton Gaaei, who got away with a yellow card. “This is of course 100 percent red,” the trainer said ESPN about the Ajax defender’s charge on Julian Baas’ ankle.

The VAR looked at the images and saw no reason to call referee Sander van der Eijk to the screen. “I don’t know what Mr Van der Laan (the VAR, ed.) was doing, but this is unprecedented,” Dijkhuizen grumbled.

“If you know a little about football, you will see that Gaaei very consciously puts his foot over the ball and has no intention of playing the ball. He hits him right on the ankle. When this happens at big clubs, then the fence will be down and everything will be on fire.

If Van der Eijk had drawn red for Gaaei, Ajax would have had to continue with nine men and a 1-2 deficit. Steven Bergwijn received a red card early in the match. “Then it would have been done,” Dijkhuizen said.

“That gives a doubly sad feeling. The boys smelled blood. It went so easily. We received no pressure from Ajax, which you rarely experience in the ArenA. Although we fell behind 1-0, we continued to play good football and we got opportunities.”

With three points, Dijkhuizen and Excelsior had taken a giant step towards enforcement. Now Excelsior was able to add one point and the team from Rotterdam awaits an exciting apotheosis in the Eredivisie.