Van Bommel Escapes Card After Face High Kick Against Heerenveen

A high-foot challenge involving PSV Eindhoven forward Ruben van Bommel and SC Heerenveen defender Sam Kersten triggered widespread criticism of the officiating during their match at Philips Stadion on Friday night, October 9, 2026. Referee Joey Kooij awarded Heerenveen a free kick but issued no yellow or red card after Van Bommel struck Kersten in the face.

The incident occurred in the 32nd minute after PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovár launched a long kick forward. Van Bommel attempted to reach the ball with his foot as Kersten moved to clear it with his head, but the PSV attacker missed the ball and made contact with the defender's face, according to Goal.com.

Kersten fell to the ground in considerable pain and required medical treatment. Following the treatment, he was also required to remain off the pitch for one minute under the new rule described in the report.

Kooij's decision not to discipline Van Bommel prompted angry reactions from viewers on social media platform X. One user questioned why the forward escaped punishment despite the nature of the collision and referenced another incident earlier in the season.

"Van Bommel smashes straight into someone's face, doesn't touch the ball and gets nothing. It's already the second time this season that he's escaped a red card. How many more times is Van Bommel going to get away with this? Disgrace!" an angry viewer wrote on X.

The criticism focused on whether Van Bommel should have received a red card for the challenge. The incident also revived comparisons with previous disciplinary decisions involving dangerous contact with an opponent's head.

Earlier in the season, Joey Veerman, who now plays for Borussia Dortmund, received a red card during the Johan Cruyff Shield match against AZ after catching Mexx Meerdink in the head with his studs while Veerman was still a PSV midfielder.

Another social media user connected the Heerenveen incident to Van Bommel's earlier challenge against Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman during the league clash between Ajax and PSV on September 5, when PSV won 3-1.

That collision occurred in the 80th minute as Bouwman attempted to reach the ball with his head. Referee Sander van Eijk issued Van Bommel a yellow card rather than sending him off, according to the account cited by Goal.com.

Reflecting on the earlier challenge, another viewer wrote on X: "When you see how often Van Bommel torpedoes someone, it cannot possibly have been accidental with Bouwman."

The two incidents have become points of comparison in the debate over Van Bommel's challenges and the disciplinary decisions made by referees. In the Heerenveen match, however, Kooij awarded a free kick without showing the PSV forward either a yellow or a red card.