Ivan Kruzliak, the referee chosen by UEFA for Holland-Austria, made a good debut at Euro2024 in Scotland-Switzerland, directed without errors. Born in Bratislava in 1984, he began refereeing in 2005, but reached the top flight only four years later. In 2011 he joined the FIFA international referees. During the 2023/24 season Kruzliak was employed to referee 14 matches of the Nike Liga, the top Slovakian competition, to which another six matches must be added, three for the “Championship” group, which determines the champion of Slovakia and the same number for the “Relegation”, in which low-ranking teams face each other to avoid relegation. In the Champions League the Slovakian took charge of 3 matches, all during the group stages. The first match was between the “Red Devils” of Manchester United and the Turks of Galatasaray. The second match saw him playing in Spain, at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, where the hosts Barcelona beat the Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk with a result of 2-1. The last match followed was the domination of Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid against the Scottish Celtic Glasgow, which ended with a result of 6-0. During the Europa League there are 4 matches directed by referee Kruzliak but how did he fare last night?
Kruzliak’s record with the Netherlands and Austria
The Slovak whistle has two precedents with the Austrian national team, with a balance of a victory and a defeatwhile the Slovak whistle had no connections with the Netherlands except at Under 17 level.
The referee cautioned three players
Assisted by assistants Hancko and Pozor with the Bosnian Peljto IV man and the German Fritz al Varthe referee cautioned three players: Posch, Wimmer and Querfled.
Holland-Austria, the slow-motion cases
These are the dubious episodes. In the 13th minute there was a clear foul by Gakpo on Posch: the Liverpool striker was pardoned and only reprimanded by Kruzliak. First yellow in the 32nd minute and it’s for Posch for a hard stomp on Depay. In the 33rd minute, Wimmer’s harsh intervention on Geertruida and a yellow card for him too. In the 40th minute Lienhart harshly stops a Gakpo counterattack. Tactical foul, but no yellow card. On the second Austrian goal, protests from the Netherlands due to the position of the scorer Schmid triggered by a cross from the back to the kiss of Grillitsch. There is a VAR check but the goal is validated. From 62′ to 65′ seven substitutions arrive in a row, on the last ones the referee first prohibits them and then authorizes them: they go away for five minutes without playing. In the 75th minute Depay scored, but according to Kruzliak the Dutch attacker touched it with his hand and the goal was disallowed. The VAR calls the referee back to the on field review and Kruzliak retraces his steps by conceding the goal. In the 83rd minute, Baumgartner scored the fourth Austrian goal, but the Austrian’s starting position was irregular and the goal was disallowed. In the 94th minute Querfeld was booked for wasting time. Netherlands-Austria ends 2-3.
Bergonzi challenges the referee
Mauro Bergonzi clarifies the situation. The Rai video reviewer criticizes the referee and explains: “Two incidents to be reviewed: on the momentarily disallowed goal the referee saw a handball but wasn’t sure and in fact controlled with his chest, a perfectly regular goal as confirmed by the VAR which eliminated a clear and obvious error like this one. In the 85th minute there was a header by Werghost but the referee didn’t see that the player was clearly held by the Austria defender. who deserved the penalty without the call from VAR.”
