The disappointment dripped off the face of Fortuna Sittard trainer Sjors Ultee when he spoke to the press after the game with SC Cambuur (2-1 defeat). The trainer could not believe Charlison Benschop’s goal was rejected, which would have been the important 0-2. The coach denounces the VAR and accuses the referee of being ‘not manly’ enough.
“I have to pay very close attention to my words, otherwise I will be billed for that,” a furious Ultee begins his story at the NOS. Fortuna Sittard showed a strong appearance in the opening phase and seemed to have an easy evening in Leeuwarden. “You really have them and you make the 0-2. Everything went according to plan,” he continues.
“If Nijhuis had whistled, he would have scolded the VAR completely. Every ref should walk away laughing,” Ultee says about the moment that referee Jannick van der Laan was signaled by VAR Erwin Blank. “Of course you should never be called for this. But of course you also have to be man enough for this by saying: hey, what are you doing to me? Of course I’m not going to disapprove of him.”
At Cambuur there was no one who protested against the goal. “I think it’s outrageous that this can happen,” said the trainer of the Limburgers. Zian Flemming, in turn, also lashed out at ESPN. “Nothing happens at all. I don’t know how much you can say about it before you get banned in this country… It’s a great shame. I try not to moan at the referee, but things happen that you can’t get your head around. “
This is so unbelievably sour… #SamenNaoVeure #CAMFOR pic.twitter.com/8CRRZnG6yT
– Fortuna Sittard (@FortunaSittard) February 26, 2022
