Jan Smit, a 61-year-old referee from Opmeer in the Netherlands, has been banned for life after celebrating with a team he officiated in a highly controversial match.
The incident occurred during a crucial fourth division match between St George and SV De Valken on the final day of the season.
Local reports indicate that Smit’s officiating was marred by a series of contentious decisions that heavily favored St George.
He issued three red cards to SV De Valken players and expelled a member of their coaching staff. Additionally, Smit added an extraordinary 15 minutes of injury time while St George was losing, a move that allowed them to secure the crucial point needed to clinch the title.
The match, which ended in a draw, saw immediate uproar from the SV De Valken side and their supporters, who felt gravely wronged by the referee’s actions.
However, the controversy did not end there. After the final whistle, Smit was seen joining St George in their celebrations, holding the trophy, and reveling in their success. This blatant display of bias was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread condemnation.
In response, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) conducted an expedited investigation and subsequently imposed a lifetime ban on Smit.
Reactions from the football community have been overwhelmingly critical. Players and coaches from SV De Valken expressed their disbelief and frustration.
Fans also took to social media to voice their outrage and demand stricter measures to ensure such incidents do not recur.
The referee has however responded claiming that he did no wrong and according to him, he has celebrated with other teams in the past.
