Ruben van Bommel causes a melee and debate with a brutal foul against Ajax - referees' chief weighs in

A reckless challenge by PSV star van Bommel in the prestigious Klassiker in Amsterdam inflamed tempers in the Netherlands. The decision by the refereeing team drew criticism.

In the 80th minute in Amsterdam, the visitors from Eindhoven led 2-1 when Ruben van Bommel crudely bodychecked his opponent Aaron Bouwman in an aerial challenge.

On first viewing, the incident certainly recalled Toni Schumacher's notorious collision with Patrick Battiston in the semi-final of the 1982 World Cup. Ajax's Bouwman went up for a routine header, while van Bommel, carrying considerable momentum, appeared to target only the opponent's body and struck him heavily, hip first, in the head and upper body.

A mass confrontation broke out straight away. Several Ajax players furiously charged at van Bommel, who was then defended by his PSV team-mates. One of the first to reach Bouwman, writhing on the ground, was Amsterdam's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who frantically waved for medical assistance for the 19-year-old defender.

Referee shows yellow - and prompts head-shaking and dissent

Much to the likely astonishment of most onlookers, referee Sander van der Eijk showed a yellow card. The video assistant did not intervene.

"For me, this is nothing other than a red," said Ajax's Davy Klaasen about the foul on his team-mate, who was unable to continue after van Bommel's attack and was replaced by former Schalke player Thilo Kehrer.

Raymond van Meenen, head of refereeing at the Dutch Football Association, apparently shared that view. At any rate, journalist Hugo Borst reported as much in his role as an expert for broadcaster ESPN NL.

"I have already spoken with head of referees Raymond van Meenen. He will not try to dress this up," said Borst. "He agrees that this was a red card for Ruben van Bommel and a wrong decision."

PSV remain unbeaten on course - Ajax suffer first defeat

With van Bommel still on the pitch, PSV struck again through Esmir Bajraktarevic in stoppage time to make it 3-1. Eindhoven therefore climbed, at least temporarily, to the top of the table with 13 points from five matches. For Ajax, it was their first defeat of the season.

Alongside ter Stegen, former Borussia Dortmund player Julian Brandt also started for Ajax. For Eindhoven, Ricardo Pepi, formerly of Augsburg, and Lutsharel Geertruida, formerly of RB Leipzig, had scored in the first half. Tolu Arokodare got the hosts' interim equaliser for 1-1.