PSV escape three potential reds as Joey Kooij draws fire

Under the floodlights of Philips Stadion on Friday evening, PSV welcomed SC Heerenveen for the eighth Eredivisie round. The match, the first after a long international break, saw referee Joey Kooij walk away from three incidents that could have produced red cards. PSV eventually secured a 2-0 victory.

First missed red for van Bommel

Thirty minutes in, PSV left‑winger Ruben van Bommel swung his right foot into the face of Heerenveen defender Sam Kersten. Joey Kooij waved the challenge away, issuing no card and without consulting the VAR. The decision drew immediate murmurs from the away supporters.

Second non‑call on Kersten's challenge

Early in the second half, Kersten broke through the PSV defence and collided with goalkeeper Matej Kovar, the contact described as light. Kooij judged the tackle insufficient for a booking, a view later endorsed by the video assistant. Heerenveen players and staff expressed disappointment at the leniency.

Third controversy and social media backlash

Shortly before full‑time, PSV defender Armando Obispo received his first yellow card. A later challenge that many felt warranted a second booking was instead punished with a yellow for Heerenveen midfielder Marcus Linday. No second yellow was shown to Obispo, leaving the referee under fire.

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Social media erupted. One PSV‑aligned user wrote on X: “We have all the luck of the world today. Van Bommel, Kovar… Obispo should have always got his second yellow.” A Heerenveen supporter added: “Heerenveen does itself a bizarre disadvantage, but with half an hour left Kooij fails to give Obispo his second yellow. Later PSV scores 2‑0. How can Kooij make such a decision? Scandalous.” Another comment declared: “He is really unsuitable. Obispo should have had three yellows, got only one. Kooij puts a negative stamp on the match.”

The KNVB clarified that Joey Kooij belongs to the seven‑member Talents Group, a pool of referees who may officiate more matches involving PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord. While the association defended his appointment, some fans argued that PSV must win against this official.

Despite the controversy, the match concluded with PSV’s two goals securing three points, leaving the eighth‑round table unchanged for the Dutch champions. The referee’s decisions, however, dominated post‑match discussion more than the play itself.

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The episode raises questions about the KNVB’s oversight of its elite referees and whether the Talents Group will face stricter scrutiny after the Week of the Referee highlighted repeated contentious calls.