Ruben Van Bommel Controversy Takes Another Twist as Wim Kieft Breaks His Silence After Explosive PSV Vs Ajax Clash

Wim Kieft believes the reaction to Ruben van Bommel’s challenge on Aaron Bouwman has gone too far, despite agreeing that the PSV winger should have received a red card.

Ruben van Bommel’s challenge on Aaron Bouwman during Ajax’s 1-3 defeat to PSV continues to dominate the discussion in the Netherlands. The PSV winger was shown a yellow card by referee Sander van der Eijk, a decision that has left many analysts and supporters baffled.

While several pundits have argued that Van Bommel should have been sent off, others, including Johan Derksen and Willem van Hanegem, have defended the PSV player. Former PSV striker Wim Kieft has now offered a more nuanced assessment, agreeing that the tackle warranted a red card while questioning the scale of the subsequent reaction.

Derksen has gone furthest in his defence of Van Bommel, insisting the incident should not even have resulted in a foul.

“All of the Netherlands is calling it a red card. I even saw terms like ‘murder attack’. It was talked about with indignation and everyone was outraged, but I didn’t even think it was a yellow card. It was a typical collision that occurs in a contact sport. Both players were focused on the ball and went for it intentionally.

They couldn’t avoid each other anymore, and no one was to blame for that. It was awful to see, but you really can’t blame Van Bommel for it, because he didn’t see that player at all. It was very sad and it looked very bad, but it was not a foul. It was an accidental collision”, Derksen said on his podcast Groeten uit Grolloo.

Kieft, speaking on KieftJansenEgmondGijp, disagreed with that assessment of the challenge itself but shared Derksen’s concern over the reaction.

“That whole Van Bommel. I’d still like to say something about it. The total outrage that’s been building in the Netherlands. I thought it was absolutely wild what that guy did. It’s reckless and just red. But doesn’t it all get a bit too much, boys?” Kieft said, as quoted by PSV Inside.

René van der Gijp suggested Van Bommel continued after realising he would not reach the ball.

“When he knew he wasn’t going to make it, he pushed on a bit more,” Van der Gijp said.

Kieft responded: “Of course it’s a red card. But the total outrage that has now arisen in the Netherlands. I really think that.”

The discussion also turned to Van Bommel’s reaction after the final whistle. “I could tell he was bothered by it after the match. Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasn't. He was proud of it,” Van der Gijp said.

Agent Rob Jansen stressed that Van Bommel’s response, and that of PSV, will now be important.

“It’s important how he deals with it. And the club PSV outwardly. His father and Bert van Marwijk can play a big role in that,” Jansen added.

Kieft had already delivered a similar verdict on NOS Studio Sport Football, acknowledging that Van Bommel did not intend to injure Bouwman.

“Let me start by saying that I don't think it's Van Bommel's intention, but if you come in that wildly... I also understand Peter Bosz's reasoning, that he twists his body, because he expects a confrontation with their heads colliding. But you just can't enter that wildly. Red,” Kieft said, as relayed by PSV Inside.

The former Ajax and PSV striker also expects the title race to remain competitive. “Ajax is on its way and they will also play better, but PSV is still very stable and solid,” he said.

Leonne Stentler, meanwhile, expects Bosz’s side to retain the Eredivisie crown: “PSV will just be champions again, you know.”