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Heerenveen’s Robin van Persie rails at ‘unthinkable’ referee error

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Heerenveen boss Robin van Persie was left exasperated after match officers mistakenly allowed Fortuna Sittard to discipline 12 gamers towards his aspect on Saturday.

The incident occurred within the 88th minute with Heerenveen 2-1 up, when Fortuna made a double-substitution that noticed Ryan Fosso and Jasper Dahlhaus come off for Darijo Grujcic and Owen Johnson. Nonetheless, Dahlhaus did not step off the pitch and performed for practically a minute.

Van Persie seen the person benefit to Fortuna and protested on the sidelines earlier than Dahlhaus ultimately got here off. A minute later, Fortuna equalised by a nook to grab three factors away from Heerenveen.

“I discover what preceded that objective very particular,” Van Persie mentioned post-match. “Fortuna Sittard had 12 males on the sphere for a minute earlier than that throw-in. Apparently that’s allowed and potential. You’ll be able to’t think about that? That it’s merely allowed.

“Usually I by no means speak to referees and at all times allow them to do their job, however it may possibly’t be that they play with twelve males. That is unthinkable. So I requested the fourth official: ‘Should not you do one thing about that?'”

When requested what he’d wish to see carried out, Van Persie mentioned: “For instance, reverse that objective. You’ll be able to’t play with twelve males towards eleven. I actually cannot perceive that. I feel that is actually scandalous.”

The previous Manchester United and Arsenal ahead took over at Heerenveen in Might final 12 months. His aspect are tenth within the Eredivisie after 21 video games.

Info from ESPN Netherlands contributed to this report.