Serdar Gözübüyük is happy that he is entering the final matchday of the Premier League as leader of the AD referee ranking. However, he is also feeling fierce dissatisfaction with the KNVB's referee policy. "In Zeist, there is too much of a culture of wanting to distribute everything fairly."
In the Premier League just about everything has been decided. Also on an individual level. Only in the AD referee ranking the battle is still open. Serdar Gözübüyük is the proud leader after 33 rounds of play, but Danny Makkelie still pants him in the neck on the last day of play. Numbers 3 and 4, Bas Nijhuis and Bjorn Kuipers, seem to be already beaten. His high average makes Gözübüyük, who closes with Vitesse-Ajax, of course happy. Yet we do not find the 35-year-old referee in euphoria. "Firstly, because I have yet to hold on to first place in the rankings," said Gözübüyük. “But also because I have my reservations about this season. UEFA has given me plenty of matches, even three matches in the Champions League. But in the Netherlands I only had 17 matches in the Premier League. That is not enough, isn't it? That is not a top sport situation for me. Zeist has too much of a culture of fair distribution. It still needs something and it still needs something. I just didn't referee enough. And that's how more referees think about their situation." That opinion is a direct criticism of Dick van Egmond, coordinator of referee affairs at the KNVB. Gözübüyük shrugs. "I have also indicated all this internally, it is no secret in Zeist," said the referee. “Van Egmond has held this position for eleven years, I have the feeling that a different approach would be better. And I'm sure it's not just me who thinks about it that way." So, Gözübüyük has so far the highest average, but the Haarlemmer is gnawing. Coach Dick Advocaat recently indicated during a press conference that it is strange that his team, Feyenoord, was often assigned the same referees and strangely enough not once Gözübüyük in an entire season. “I did not referee Feyenoord at all this season. I only got Ajax once, away at Emmen. And then Vitesse-Ajax on Sunday. I didn't get any top matches, no Classic or a Cup final. Or is that because I open my mouth? That could be. I just say it, I am not dependent on refereeing for a living. I also refereed four times in the first division this season. And yes, I had an injury. But that cost me a maximum of two games. Just like that nonsense that we get off on the weekend after a performance in Europe. Why? Don't players also get back into action a few days later? Let us whistle more."
Gözübüyük will release his biography early next season. Does the criticism of Van Egmond come back in detail? "That's just my story; because of corona we had to postpone the launch of the book," he says. “Mr. Van Hanegem would receive the first copy. Then the best thing is in a room with people and that is just not possible yet. The Turkish press also wants to be there and nobody gets on a plane just like that. That is all separate from this story. Listen, I'm really happy to have the highest average in your standings. That is always an honor, I am honest about that. I also think I refereed well this season. But there is dissatisfaction with me, but also with many of my colleagues, about the approach from Zeist. They know there that I feel that way, this will not surprise anyone."
Dick van Egmond (60) says he does not want to respond to Gözübüyük's criticism. According to him, this will be discussed internally and after that, according to the refereeing boss, it will all remain in private in Zeist. According to him, the fact that almost all journalists rate referees with an average score higher than 6 is also due to the fact that the press understands the sometimes complex regulations better. The KNVB has been holding 'explanation sessions' for years and, moreover, questionable situations can be checked nowadays. Yet, there is still a substantial gray area. Last Thursday, Bas Nijhuis gave a penalty kick to Emmen, shaking his head and reluctantly. The referee, who had to give red card twice through the intervention of the VAR and let Ibrahim Dresevic escape after a kick in the face of Michael de Leeuw, prefers to use his own style and according to critics more and more colleagues would try to copy that. "That criticism is not always justified, but it is logical", says Van Egmond. “One lets go a bit more, the other whistles a bit tighter. Which can happen. With penalties, we see that the regulations are not ideal. There is also room for improvement there." And according to Gözübüyük, the same applies to the approach to refereeing from Zeist. The procedure for appointments, training and assessment comes under a magnifying glass because of his firm words. Nevertheless, Van Egmond does not go into it. "Again, we are discussing this internally," he says.
Source: AD