Historic VAR Intervention for Danny Makkelie Sparks Debate: 'It Was Simply a Wrong Call'

It was a remarkable moment at the World Cup. American defender Tim Bream tackled a Paraguayan player, Miguel Almíron, who went down willingly, earning the American a yellow card. However, it turned out the Paraguayan had feigned injury, prompting VAR to intervene and send referee Makkelie to the monitor.

There, the Dutch official had to reverse his decision. "The VAR immediately applied the new regulations," explained Oranje-watcher Rick Kraaijeveld. But, as presenter Damian Vlottes noted, "It's quite unusual for VAR, isn't it? It said Mistaken identity, but it was simply a wrong call."

Boussaboun then interjects: "I actually think it's a very good rule. If you truly want to get rid of all that diving and rolling, this is the only way to penalize such theatrics. I sometimes see things happen that I would genuinely be ashamed of," he states. Robert Maaskant wholeheartedly agrees. "I think it's good that VAR is getting more to do."

The new rules, in effect since this season, grant VAR more influence. For instance, it can overturn an incorrectly awarded goal kick into a corner kick, and it can now also intervene in cases of yellow cards. What was particularly striking in Makkelie's situation was that play had already resumed before Makkelie blew his whistle for the VAR intervention.

For Maaskant, that's not a major issue. "I believe: if it's wrong, then it's wrong, and you have to intervene. But it must be within a certain timeframe." For corner kicks, that's already the case, Kraaijeveld knows. "They can only intervene there if they timely see whether it's a corner kick or not. Otherwise, the moment is gone."

That then reminds Maaskant of the early days of the VAR system in the Netherlands. "At the time, it was agreed that if there was a penalty, VAR could no longer revisit the situation once play had resumed. So, we told the players that if there was a free kick or a throw-in, they had to get the ball back into play as quickly as possible, because then the moment would at least be gone." That doesn't apply in the case of mistaken identity, however. The referee is still allowed to revisit the moment later.

In the new episode of the daily Sportnieuws.nl World Cup football podcast, Robert Maaskant and Ali Boussaboun discuss Danny Makkelie's performance in America's opening match. There were also other Dutch influences in that game that deserve mention. Furthermore, the remarkable statement by the mayor of New York was discussed. He is convinced that the Netherlands will be eliminated quickly and Morocco will go far, a statement that sparked much debate at the table.

Additionally, there's a preview of Morocco's first match against Brazil, and Cody Gakpo's performances for the Oranje are scrutinized. Could he eventually become the all-time top scorer? Hear all this and much more from 7:30 AM in your favorite podcast app.