Van Bommel's elbow strike in Leipzig ignites new anger in the Netherlands

While RB Leipzig against PSV in the Champions League had not even played a quarter of an hour, Ruben van Bommel quickly seized his moment and delivered an unpleasant elbow strike, causing the whole of the Netherlands to turn against him.

A calm start that quickly ignited

The match began relatively calmly at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, but after a quarter of an hour the atmosphere changed completely. An almost‑penalty moment eventually led to a penalty kick for PSV, but even before that Van Bommel had already caused a hard confrontation.

Repeat of an earlier incident

This was not the first time Van Bommel had come under fire. During the Ajax‑PSV match he had previously been criticised for a kick to the face of SC Heerenveen defender Sam Kersten, and a charge against Aaron Bouwman was widely discussed.

After the Leipzig incident Van Bommel delivered an unfiltered elbow strike, an action that many said was the red rag to a bull. The reaction in the media and on social networks was immediate and fierce.

Social media and public outrage

On X (Twitter) a user wrote: “Van Bommel smacks someone in the face again”. Another replied: “Hitting again… Van Bommel can do anything, it seems”. A third stated: “He is very good with faces. He often and frequently hits opponents deliberately in the face”.

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From Amsterdam came an even sharper condemnation: “Leipzig‑PSV is a quarter of an hour away and Van Bommel has already delivered an elbow. He is truly a filthy, sneaky scoundrel. It is a fact that he can only kick, to a rotten bastard.”

Columnists and the broader discussion

Columnist Hugo Borst, who was already critical of the left‑winger of the Eindhoven side after Ajax‑PSV, wrote in the Algemeen Dagblad: “A player who lets himself go like that must take responsibility. That goes beyond apologies to Bouwman. Harm has been caused.”

He continued: “Van Bommel, a little thing to his speed, inherited not only his father’s talent, but also his dark side. The ball was not nearby. It was stupid and unnecessary. To prevent recidivism, professional help is necessary.”

PSV let chances slip as Leipzig up the pressure in the Champions League

Public opinion seems unchanged despite these criticisms; the question whether the incidents have altered the perception of Van Bommel remains unanswered.