When Dennis Higler saw a penalty kick for Eindhoven over their heads during the Feyenoord-PSV (1-0), his colleague Danny Makkelie saw that they actually put their hands on each other. Not on a football field, but at an unusual location for a referee: the theatre. Makkelie, the winner of the Golden Card, gave a presentation at Schouwburg Amstelveen.
During the fascinating "performance" Makkelie talked about making crucial decisions in a split second under the biggest pressure and accompanied the spectators on a journey through his career. The referee shared video and audio clips. The sound recordings gave insight into the interaction between Makkelie, his assistants, the fourth official and the VAR. It also became clear how (often) players and coaches try to influence referee decisions.
Makkelie showed images from Euro and World Cup, where he was an active referee, but also shared “lows” in addition to the “highs”. He talked about death threats and the impact of refereeing on his “normal” life. Afterwards, in the foyer of the theater, the attendees had the opportunity to take a picture with Makkelie and ask questions. Because of the success of the evening, ARAG, for years the loyal sponsor of the Dutch referees, and Makkelie want to see if there is more demand for such presentations. There are currently discussions with several theatres to have Makkelie appear on stage elsewhere in the country.
Source: De Telegraaf
