When a team transitions from the grueling marathon of the Eredivisie to the sudden-death environment of the KNVB Beker, their tactical and disciplinary approach often shifts. Page 10 of the December 19, 2013 cup programme against NEC Nijmegen highlights a fascinating statistical anomaly regarding FC Groningen‘s behavior on the pitch.
While we have extensively documented the club’s notorious, record-breaking streak of receiving yellow and red cards in the league during this season, the “Match Facts” page reveals a completely different reality in the cup. Under the header “GEEN GELE KAARTEN” (No Yellow Cards), the text proudly notes that Groningen had not received a single booking in their previous cup ties against AFC and VV Capelle. The “bad boys” of the Eredivisie were suddenly playing with angelic discipline in the knockout rounds.
To oversee this crucial round of 16 clash, the KNVB appointed a highly experienced officiating team. The “Arbitraal Kwartet” block introduces main referee Reinold Wiedemeijer, flanked by assistant referees Hessel Steegstra and Peter Janson, with Richard Martens acting as the fourth official. The text notes that this was Wiedemeijer’s 11th official match at the Euroborg, a stadium where he had previously overseen everything from a 4-1 win over Willem II to a 0-1 defeat against Sparta. His experience was vital for a match where the home side was desperate to save their winter season.
A Look into the Future
The perfect cup discipline highlighted on this page did not save FC Groningen that evening. Despite keeping their cards in their pockets, they suffered a shock 0-1 defeat to NEC, crashing out of the tournament. However, the officiating crew led by Reinold Wiedemeijer managed the game expertly. Wiedemeijer continued his long, respected career in Dutch football before transitioning into a role as a prominent VAR official. As for Groningen, the bitter taste of this cup exit fueled their fire for the following season, where they would return to the KNVB Beker with a vengeance, ultimately winning the entire tournament in 2015.