PSV's Ruben van Bommel caused controversy with a heavy foul on Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman during the top match on 5 September 2026. The PSV midfielder received only a yellow card from referee Sander van der Eijk for a tackle described as a 'murder attempt' in the ESPN studio, as reported by HLN Voetbal.

Ajax, currently fourth in the Eredivisie with 7 points from 3 games, was pushing for an equalizer. The 22-year-old Van Bommel clattered into the 19-year-old Bouwman, causing immediate outrage. Ajax's Youri Baas shoved the PSV player away in frustration. VAR official Pol van Boekel saw no reason to intervene and the yellow card stood.

Why did the VAR not intervene?

The decision by referee Van der Eijk and VAR Van Boekel led to bewilderment among analysts. Marciano Vink said in the ESPN studio: "If you don't see this as a red card..." Former Ajax player Davy Klaassen was also clear. "You see that he goes in hard on him. I thought it was nothing other than red," he stated. The general consensus was that Van Bommel should have been sent off.

The match eventually ended 1-3 for PSV after a goal in deep stoppage time against Ajax. The Amsterdam side now trails leaders AZ Alkmaar by 5 points in the title race. With 8 goals scored and only 2 conceded this season, Ajax does have a solid goal difference of +6, offering hope for the coming matches. The full standings can be followed online.

What was Mark van Bommel's reaction?

A unique aspect of the incident was the presence of national team coach Mark van Bommel in the stands. The 49-year-old coach of the Belgian Red Devils saw his son Ruben land in the eye of the storm. No direct reactions from the former international have been released, but the situation was undoubtedly awkward for the father, who must assess his son both as a parent and as a national team coach.

For Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman, it was a harsh lesson in Eredivisie football. The young defender, who is part of this season's promising squad, fortunately remained unharmed and was able to finish the match. His development will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.

How does Ajax move forward after this defeat?

The defeat against their arch-rival is a setback for Ajax, but the season is still young. The manager and players must now focus on the next assignment: an away match against FC Twente on 8 November 2026. Twente currently sits eighth in the table, promising a difficult but achievable task. Ajax will want to prove this was an incident and not the trend for the season.

The coming weeks offer opportunities to pick up points and reduce the gap to the leaders. Fans can follow the preparations and the exact fixtures through official channels. The next home match at the Johan Cruijff Arena is scheduled for two weeks after the confrontation with Twente.