The topper between SCHC and Den Bosch ended on Sunday afternoon in 2-2But the most important problem was Pien Sanders’ red card. After her second yellow – twelve minutes before the end – she had to leave the field. “I didn’t deliberately thrown that thing against his head, right?”
When the topper between the arch rivals ended and SCHC equalized in the last seconds by Renée van Laarhoven, Captain Pien Sanders climbed over the fence. She takes the floor in the circle of Den Bosch. Emotionally she tells how proud she is on her team and thanks her teammates with tears in her eyes. At the same time, she shares how much she regrets what happened just earlier. Her words also touch the rest of the team; One by one her teammates give her a hug.
“I’m ashamed of my eyes,” says Pien Sanders on the other side of the field. “This is just painful. I think a lot, but I can’t say that. ‘
Back to the topper, who changed a game full of emotion and cards after the break. At the end of the first quarter, Pien Sanders received her first yellow card. The captain of Den Bosch came too late to Elzemiek Zandee and hit the SCHC midfielder with her stick. Sanders was immediately guilty and searched the penalty bench. “I just timed badly. I expect I will do better, “Balkuets. Hardly on the field she received a second yellow card by referee Job Baan 12 minutes before the end. This time because her knee path accidentally flew against the upper arm of the referee just after a corner. Because this season is punished with yellow, and twice yellow means red.
Tears for Pien Sanders. Photo: Willem Vernes
‘I do it by accident’
“I don’t look at the referee, I don’t do it on purpose. I don’t deliberately throw that thing against his head, “Pien Sanders stammered. In disbelief, she explains her side of the story: ‘It happened by accident, without intention. But rules are rules. If he thinks he should give a red, he should do that. Only at that moment I just lacked some empathy. Such a moment defines the game. ‘
It was indeed the turning point in the game, in which Den Bosch led 1-2, but was under full pressure. ‘You have to whistle in the spirit of the competition, don’t you? That’s how I think about it. I have to be careful what I say, but I have seen it happen more often. And I have often not seen a yellow card for it. That’s what I want to say about it. It is very unfortunate for me and my team that it is happening now. ‘
‘Giving red for a knee cover, I find striking’
When Sanders saw the second yellow card in the air, she knew it – Red followed immediately. A card she had never received before. She left the field in disbelief and incomprehension. She stuck her thumb in the air along the way. Somewhat provocative. “That may not be smart, but it is in the heat of the moment. It’s pure emotion, “she explained. “I could have done much more than a thumb up, I can tell you,” she grins. “That thumb up is perhaps a bit arrogant, but I felt angry at the time. Felt that something was taken from me. I threw a small knee cap at the referee. Not difficult at all. Accidentally. To give a red, I find striking. Then she will remain silent. “At least I’m glad it wasn’t a slide. With two legs or something. Then I just go to the history books. ‘
Photo: Willem Vernes
On the other side of the fence, hidden in a large winter coat, she spent the rest of the game shouting her lungs. “I thought we defended well. We were under full fire, but I did well. Grab all those corners super beautiful. And then you get a penalty ball after that corner, “Sanders left another silence. I also think about that. I think another corner would have been justified. I think Rosa (Fernig) polluted, but Anna (De Geus) was really not in a score position. I have never seen anyone from the sidelines score with so many defenders between them. I really didn’t think it was a penalty ball.’
A change in the rules?
A decision Den Bosch also disagreed. But Sanders mainly looks at her own moment. ‘My team had to work very hard to make up for my mistake. That just feels like shit. Everyone here thought it was a nonsensical card, but that doesn’t help me, “she complained. ‘Maybe something should be done about the regulations. If I did it on purpose. Or hit his head. I’m in the race. Do nothing else. Maybe there should be a rule that you get some time to take your things off. But that is no longer of any use today. ‘
Saying that Sanders feels awarded is an understatement, but her sense of pride prevails. ‘We can really leave here with our heads. We played 2-2 against SCHC last week and lost to Bloemendaal. We have succeeded in turning that nicely. ‘Then it is still to be seen what the red card means more. Whether Sanders actually gets a competition suspension on her pants. “I would almost want to dispute it. We will see. If I have seen at least one thing, it is that my team can do without me. ‘
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