Johan Derksen defends referee Van der Eijk: Van Bommel – Bouwman collision does not deserve a red card

During an Ajax – PSV match in the Eredivisie, Ruben van Bommel and Aaron Bouwman collided heavily in midfield. Many fans and media outlets immediately demanded a red card for Van Bommel. However, according to Goal.com, Dutch football expert Johan Derksen defended referee Van der Eijk, saying it was simply an accident in football, not an intentional foul. The collision happened very quickly. Both players went for the ball in the middle of the pitch. Van Bommel only saw Bouwman at the last moment and turned his shoulder to protect himself. Bouwman did not see him coming at all. The impact left both players on the ground. Dutch media used harsh language to describe the scene, some even calling it attempted murder. Derksen called those reactions hysterical stories. He said the incident was sad and looked very bad, but nobody deserved disciplinary punishment. Van Bommel reacted naturally by turning his shoulder, while Bouwman had no time to react. This was a typical high-speed challenge. A red card would have been a wrong decision. Derksen praised referee Van der Eijk for making an excellent decision not to send off Van Bommel. Modern referees face huge pressure from fans, media and VAR. In this case, the referee correctly read the situation and kept his composure. Ajax and PSV are direct rivals in the Dutch title race. Decisions in such matches always receive extra attention, and public opinion tends to react emotionally rather than by law. This incident shows how a minor collision can become a scandal because of the match context. From a technical perspective, midfield duels are inevitable. Fans only see the final impact, not the tiny window players have to make decisions. Van Bommel could not know exactly where Bouwman would arrive. His shoulder turn was a natural protective reflex. Treating it as violence would make every strong challenge potentially punishable. Derksen also warned about negative media influence. Hysterical narratives put more pressure on referees and may force less experienced officials to give cards just to calm the crowd. That damages fairness and the appeal of Dutch football. This incident raises an important question: do fans really want referees to punish every heavy collision? If so, football becomes an unfair game driven by public emotion. Derksen chose to stand on the side of the law and impartiality. He understands that accidents in sport remain accidents. The lesson from Derksen and referee Van der Eijk is clear: calmness is a referee’s most powerful weapon.