AZ suffered their first defeat of the season at Feyenoord on Saturday evening, falling to a 2-0 loss that left a bitter taste for the visitors. The result overshadowed by a controversial VAR decision that denied striker Mexx Meerdink what he believed was a clear penalty in the first half.
Just before the interval, Meerdink appeared to be brought down by Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst inside the penalty area. Referee Danny Makkelie initially awarded the spot-kick, only for VAR to intervene and overturn his decision after a review of the footage. Speaking to ESPN after the match, Meerdink expressed his frustration with the outcome.
Meerdink's Take on the Controversial Call
"I feel contact," Meerdink insisted. "I don't know what footage he has seen, but I think this is simply a penalty. He just puts it on my foot. If you see the image from behind, you can clearly see that he touches me." The striker added that the inconsistency troubled him most: similar contact in midfield would have resulted in a foul being called, yet the contact in the box was deemed insufficient.
The decision visibly angered Meerdink, prompting opposing defender Gjivai Zechiël to offer words of counsel. "He said: calm down, nothing's going on," Meerdink recalled. "I understand why he says that. But I think the goalkeeper was a bit startled as well." The goalkeeper's reaction to the contact suggested Ernst himself anticipated the penalty being awarded before the VAR review changed the course of the match.
Meerdink Reflects on Personal Performance
Beyond the penalty incident, Meerdink acknowledged a subdued personal display. "Today I didn't get many balls and I wasn't involved in the play very much," he admitted. When pressed about his direct opponents in defence—Jerry St. Juste and Mika Mármol—the striker showed perspective: "Yes, they were good today. But it's up to me to learn to reach that level in every match."
The loss marks a turning point in AZ's campaign as they prepare for their next challenge, with questions lingering over how VAR decisions continue to shape outcomes in the Eredivisie title race.
