Bas Nijhuis hopes that the cabinet will decide to allow more supporters into the stadiums. He sees advantages for referees if there is an audience in the stands again.
Simulating players will again be kept to a minimum, Nijhuis expects. “I think we have got rid of the annoying yelling and moaning of players who are barely hit,” he tells De Telegraaf . “That no longer makes sense, because it is much less audible in a full stadium and it will therefore influence a referee less. I think the fun will soon wear off.”
The nagging about a free kick, which De Tukker sometimes has to deal with, will also decrease, according to the arbitrator. “Every minimal tap on a shin guard can now be heard all over the field, so that even the right-back shouts ‘hey’ when he thinks something has happened in the front left. That constant and massive appeal is very annoying.”
Finally, Nijhuis also thinks that the game spoilage will be seen less often. He cites the example of Lisandro Martínez, who rolled back into the field during PSV – Ajax (1-2) to gain time. “He probably would have omitted that for a full box of PSV supporters with a bucket of beer in their hand. Really, let the cabinet decide quickly to let the fans play football again.”
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