Robin Van Persie: How one extra player cost Heerenveen a win
In football, 12th player is called for home crowd who boost morale and performance of their team, while potentially intimidating visiting team. If we ask about 12th player to current Heerenveen coach and former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Robin Van Persie, he may tell Jasper Dahlhaus as the 12th player in football instead.
In 2 Feb 2025, Eredivisie match between SC Heerenveen and Fortuna Sittard witnessed an unusual incident. Fortuna played briefly with 12 players on the field. This happened during a double substitution. Darijo Grujcic and Owen Johnson were set to replace Ryan Fosso and Jasper Dahlhaus. While two players were brought on, one of the players meant to be substituted, Jasper Dahlhaus, remained on the pitch for nearly a minute. During this period, Fortuna Sittard secured a corner and subsequently scored an equalizer, leading to a 2-2 draw. Heerenveen's coach, Robin Van Persie labelled situation as scandalous and questioned official's oversight. Dutch FC seeked guidance from International Football Association Board to handle similar situation in the future.
While the IFAB's guidance is awaited, this bizarre incident serves as a reminder of the crucial role officials play in ensuring fair play, and how even the most seemingly straightforward aspects of the game can be subject to unexpected twists.