Verweij: FIFA put referee Danny Makkelie in a bind

Mike Verweij argued that FIFA has placed Dutch referee Danny Makkelie in a difficult position after he officiated the Morocco‑Haiti World Cup qualifier, which Morocco won 4‑2, while social media users focused largely on Makkelie’s haircut rather than his decisions.

During the Morocco‑Haiti match, Makkelie’s decisions attracted little criticism, with most social media remarks targeting his haircut. Verweij said, “If that’s what people talk about after such a game, you’ve generally done well.” He added that focusing on appearance rather than calls indicates a satisfactory performance.

Journalist Valentijn Driessen noted that he has been following Makkelie’s “odd haircut” throughout the year. Driessen also claimed that the referee “has been blowing poorly all year,” suggesting a need to look beyond the hairstyle. He implied that the haircut criticism should be weighed against the referee’s overall conduct.

Verweij argued that FIFA has placed Makkelie in a “lastig parket” after the Morocco fixture. He pointed out that Morocco appears to be the Netherlands’ next opponent in the competition. This connection, he said, raises questions about potential bias or pressure on the official.

Some online comments alleged that Makkelie tried to avoid officiating Morocco, which Verweij dismissed as unfounded. The majority of remarks, centered on the referee’s haircut rather than any alleged errors. He concluded that absent clear refereeing mistakes, the overall assessment of Makkelie’s performance remains positive.