The match between Netherlands and Tunisia at the World Cup was stopped at the start of the second half due to no players on the pitch. With a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time, Ronald Koeman’s side had already returned to the field, followed shortly after by the Tunisian players.
However, as the countdown began, it quickly became clear that coach Hervé Renard’s squad was missing one player, with just 10 players. Tunisian players frantically signaled to referee Katia Garcia after the second-half kick-off that they were still waiting for Elies Schiri, but they were quickly stopped.
Schiri eventually appeared on the pitch after a delay of nearly two minutes, but by then the countdown to kick-off had already passed.
Dutch coach Koeman was visibly furious on the touchline and made his frustrations clear to fourth official Juan Gabriel Benitez and the Tunisian bench.
BBC commentator Steve Wilson said: “We had to pause. Tunisia were man-light so the countdown was a little early. And the Tunisian players at the back were trying desperately to draw the referee’s attention to the fact that they only had 10 players.”
“In fact, they only have 10 players left, one more missing.”
Co-commentator Stephen Warnock replied: “Why?!” Wilson replied, “I don’t know.”
Former Liverpool defender Warnock said before becoming furious: “It’s unbelievable. You know the clock is ticking down and he should have left sooner. Ronald Koeman is furious, and rightly so. He’s saying, ‘How is this happening? It’s not acceptable.’
“They only have 10 players,” Wilson said before the game restarted. “Here he is, he’s good. Better late than never.”
The Netherlands took the lead when Schiri slotted the ball into her own net, before Bryna Brobbey doubled her team’s advantage with seven minutes remaining.
Leonard’s side pulled one back through Hazem Mastouri nine minutes into the second half, but Jan Paul van Hecke restored Holland’s two-goal cushion eight minutes later.
In other matches, Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden, meaning the Netherlands finished top of Group F and will face Morocco in the Round of 32 on Tuesday.
