Dutch Fourth Official And Footballer Are Engaged After First Meeting When He Was Sent Off During Game

FC Emmen defender Jeff Hardeveld and fourth official Shona Shukrula are engaged to be married, after meeting for the first time during a clash in the Dutch second tier.

On August 13, 2021, high flying FC Emmen came up against FC Eindhoven in the Eerste Divisie.

Shukrula, who has been refereeing for KNVB since the 2009/10 season, was officiating the second division clash while full-back Hardeveld featured, but was sent off in the 91st minute.

FC Emmen suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Eindhoven thanks to a Jasper Dahlhaus strike but it turned out to be a special occasion for Hardeveld and Shukrula.

Despite picking up a red card late on, the 26-year-old bumped into the fourth official and according to Dutch publication Telegraaf, this is where the pair first met.

Four months later and the pair announced their relationship via social media after jetting off to Rome for the New Year period. "It’s official @jeffhardeveld," Shona wrote on Instagram.

Hardeveld also posted a picture from their trip to Rome on his social media platform.

The couple then announced they were engaged in May.

Hardeveld shared the news on Instagram along with pictures, simply captioned: "SHE SAID YES!"

Shukrula is one of the most highly rated officials in the Dutch game.

She has received international appointments in Champions League fixtures as well as European Championship and World Cup qualifiers. 

In 2019, she was promoted to category two of the FIFA list before becoming the first woman in the Netherlands to lead a competition at the highest amateur level for men.