(foto: Instagram)
In a rare moment during Twente vs Utrecht, the referee couldn't decide after watching VAR, so he called over his assistant, and the two reviewed the footage together.
An unusual moment occurred in Sunday’s Eredivisie clash between Twente and Utrecht, where a joint VAR review stunned fans and added a new twist to how decisions are made in top-flight football.
In the 57th minute, with Twente leading 1-0, referee Martin van den Kerkhof was alerted by the VAR team about a possible offense in the build-up to Twente’s goal. Following standard procedure, he went to the pitchside monitor to review the footage.
But after watching the video, the head referee was still unsure of how to interpret the situation—so he did something rarely seen: he called over his assistant referee to help him analyse the video.
Both match officials stood side-by-side, reviewing the footage and discussing it while remaining in contact with the VAR control room. After a brief joint review, they ultimately decided to allow the goal to stand.
Twente went on to win 2-0, securing an important victory in the race for European qualification. But the decision-making process stole the spotlight, raising questions about how VAR protocol could evolve to include more collaborative on-field reviews when a single official lacks clarity.
The clip of the two referees at the monitor quickly went viral, with many fans appreciating the transparency—while others questioned whether it signaled a new level of uncertainty in officiating.