Ref Review: Holland 0 – 1 Denmark (09/06/2012)

In our second Ref Review of the European Championships David Costelloe gave us his take on Demir Skomina’s performance in the Holland 0 – 1 Denmark game. You can follow David on Twitter, @NFBblog.

Slovenia’s Demir Skovina took control of the opening game of Group B and had a largely untroubled time throughout most of the 90 mins. It was not a dirty contest, and Skovina was generous enough when it came to strict application of the rules, leading to a contest that was free flowing. In fact, if it wasn’t for the last of five “big calls” that I’ll discuss, it might have been the most anonymous refereeing performance of the tournament so far.

First Half

Potential Penalty for the Netherlands off Daniel Agger.

Twenty minutes into the contest a cross aimed towards Robin Van Piersie was cleared by Danish defender Daniel Agger who leapt, Karate Kid style, to boot the ball away with a very high leg, nearly decapitating RVP in the process. While a few half-hearted shouts to the Ref resulted, replays show conclusively that there was no contact with the Dutch player, Agger’s aerobatic clearance was not a high challenge, a second later and he could have given away both a penalty and received a red though. Correct decision.

Potential Penalty for the Netherlands off Simon Poulsen

28 minutes had passed when a Danish clearance from their endline was flicked on by defender Simon Poulsen. A few calls were made to the Ref regarding a possible handball. Replays show Poulsen’s hand striking the ball as he turned and ran, but I certainly wouldn’t class it as a deliberate action, just a natural consequence of the sprinting motion Poulsen was beginning, that garnered no advantage to the player. Correct decision.

Potential penalty for Denmark off John Heitinga

Forty minutes in, a Danish attack that resulted in a missed Zomling volley also saw Nicklas Bendtner take a tumble in the box, apparently from a back push by what might have been John Heitinga (the internet play back facility I used wasn’t especially clear on that point). However, the video replay suggests an accidental collision at most, a result of both players focusing on the ball elsewhere, and certainly nothing of any deliberate intent. Correct decision.

Second half

Potential penalty for the Netherlands off Simon Poulsen

77 minutes into the second half, a forward dash from Robben saw him sprawling to the ground after apparent contact from the Danish defender Simon Poulsen inside the Danish box. Some half-hearted calls went up, but the replay show the most minimal of contact, and the Dutch star falling over on his own momentum more than anything. Correct decision.

Potential penalty for the Netherlands off Lars Jacobson

The big moment of controversy, as the ball twice hit the arm of defender Lars Jacobson inside the penalty area during injury time. The first was certainly accidental as the ball struck him after coming off Huntellar. Then it hit his arm again as Huntellar attempted to regain control by flicking the ball upwards. The first, no, but the second? It isn’t intentional by any means, but Jacobson’s arms should not have been raised so high inside the penalty area, and they radically altered the course of the ball at a crucial moment. It was enough to justify a penalty kick, which was not awarded. Incorrect decision.

Conclusion

That last big decision was a shame because Skovina had been perfectly acceptable up to that point. A few free kicks here and there that I would have let go, and a few challenges, spread throughout the game, that I would have blown for, nothing too serious. Of the yellow cards, I could find no fault, especially pleased with the one handed out to Poulsen for the time wasting trick of switching a throw taker at a snail’s pace. Perhaps he was unaware, but I would have awarded a caution to Danish player Tobias Mikkelson, for his unprofessional conduct on the side of the pitch having been substituted late on in the game.

While the majority of the game was a positive for Skovina (as the stats below make-out), he will be noted, fair or not, for the late, late call more than anything else.

Decisions Breakdown

Penalties4180%Offsides60100%Frees291074.35%Line (Throws, Corners, Goal Kicks, Goal Line)79198.75%Overall1211390.29%

Decision/Potential Decisions	Correct	Incorrect	% Correct
Yellow Cards	3	1	75%
Red Cards	N/A	N/A	N/A
Big Calls	4	1	80%