Page 21 of the October 2013 matchday programme presents a fascinating, almost comical clash of footballing philosophies. On one side of the page, we have the profile of the match referee, Bas Nijhuis. On the other side, we have the disciplinary statistics of the 2013 FC Groningen squad. The combination of the two promised absolute fireworks at the Euroborg.
The editorial block titled “Nijhuis voor de zestiende keer in Euroborg” (Nijhuis for the sixteenth time in Euroborg) details the extensive history of the charismatic official in Groningen. Nijhuis is famous in Dutch football for his “let it flow” style of refereeing—he notoriously ignores soft fouls, encourages physical duels, and is highly reluctant to reach for his cards. He is a referee who demands that players stay on their feet and fight.
However, he was walking into a stadium to officiate a team that was completely out of control disciplinarily. Right next to Nijhuis’s profile is the “Rode Kaarten” (Red Cards) table, confirming that Groningen had received a staggering 5 red cards in just 8 matches. Below that, the “Teller op drie” (Counter at three) section lists the players on the brink of suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Captain Rasmus Lindgren was on three yellows, while five other core players (including Nick van der Velden and Eric Botteghin) were on two. Sending a referee who encourages physical brawls to officiate a team that couldn’t stop getting sent off was a recipe for pure Eredivisie theater.
A Look into the Future
Bas Nijhuis would go on to become one of the most famous—and polarizing—figures in Dutch football media, regularly appearing on television talk shows and even publishing a bestselling book about his refereeing experiences. His lenient style remained his trademark. Meanwhile, FC Groningen eventually managed to rein in their aggressive tendencies as the 2013/2014 season progressed. But for the fans reading this specific programme before kickoff, the anticipation of seeing the league’s most physical team unleashed by the league’s most lenient referee must have been incredibly entertaining.