Dutch referee 'banned for life' after being spotted celebrating title with winning team

A referee in the Netherlands has been banned for life, according to local reports, after he was spotted celebrating a team's title win.

Jan Smit, an official from Opmeer in North Netherlands, took charge of the fourth division game between St. George and SV De Valken on Sunday afternoon.

Here, the 61-year-old made a number of questionable decisions. Smit handed out four red cards to SV De Valken in normal time, according to NH Nieuws.

And after adding 15 minutes of extra time to proceedings, St. George goalkeeper Dave Laan scored the eventual winner in stoppage time, gifting them the title.

Soon, the referee raised further eyebrows when he was captured joining league champions St. George on stage, singing songs and lifting the trophy.

In fact, he performed the song 'Guardian Angel' by Marco Schuitmaker.

X user Danny Korporaal posted footage of the scenes alongside the caption: "Referee hands out three red cards to the opponent and then shouts CHAMPIONS and stands waving the bowl at the championship party."

Scheidsrechter deelt 3 rode kaarten uit aan de tegenstander en schreeuwt daarna KAMPIOENEN en staat met de schaal te zwaaien op het kampioensfeest. Kan alleen in de klasse van @SV_Ilpendam @MikeVerweij 🤣 pic.twitter.com/tsWCamEHHG

— Danny Korporaal (@dannykorporaal) May 12, 2024

SV De Valken would later file a complaint against Smit.

"The Valken board does not consider it useful to discuss Sunday's match in detail and the role of the referee during and after the match in public," they wrote.

"We just have to judge whether it is normal for a referee to celebrate St. George's deserved championship in an exuberant manner after the match."

The Dutch FA have since responded by banning the referee from officiating on behalf of their organisation.

"We have received several complaints after Sunday's match," said KNVB spokesperson Daan Schippers..

"This morning we called Mr Smit and told him that he is no longer allowed to referee matches. We expect a neutral attitude from a referee and that both teams are treated with respect. That is of course where this attitude belongs, not included."

Smit, meanwhile, has voiced his opinion on the matter.

"I can understand that SV De Valken is disappointed with the course of the match," he told NH Nieuws. "However, in my opinion, the four red cards given were all one hundred percent justified.

"Before the match I have already been asked by players from St. George if I wanted to sing a song afterwards. I have done that several times in the past, including at Spartans, VVS, Grasshoppers and also in Amsterdam at ASV Arsenal."

Smit added: "I said that if they were to become champions, I would like to sing a song. During the chorus of 'The Guardian Angel', the bowl was pressed into my hands and I held it up.

"De Valken, however, did not appreciate this. They just forwarded that video to the KNVB and filed a complaint.

"I wasn't partying with the players at all. I just sang a song and held up the bowl once. That's the only thing. I find it too sad for words that the KNVB is removing me for that reason. It's laughable.

"KNVB has not done any research and only watched one video. I assume that the whistling is now over, but I will no longer get on my knees like I did two years ago. Then they can go on the beet bridge."