Watch: Referee accidentally scores in Dutch league game

The goal stood despite bouncing in off the match official’s legs.

A referee accidentally scored a goal then allowed it to stand in a Dutch league game on Saturday.

Playing in the Derde Divisie, Dutch football’s fourth tier, HSV Hoek were awarded a goal against Harkemase Boys after the ball ricocheted off referee Maurice Paarhuis’ legs.

Paarhuis was stood in the six yard box appearing to try and get a closer look at a goal line scramble, before a HSV Hoek cross deflected off a defender and into his path.

“Never experienced this,” a tweet translated from Dutch reads from bemused home team Harkemase after the goal was given in the 66th minute.

Football Association rules appear to support Paarhuis’ decision to allow the goal to stand, stating: “Match officials are part of the game and if the ball hits any match official and has not wholly passed over the goal line or touchline then it remains ‘in play’.”

Fortunately for Harkemase the goal did not affect the game’s result, with the score at 3-1 before the ball went in, pulling HSV Hoek within one goal before the game was settled 4-2.

Harkemase shared a photo of the referee surrounded by complaining Harkamese players with the caption: “What are you doing, referee?”

The goal has received a lot of attention on Twitter, with Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei commenting: “Good finish.”

Many also critiqued Paarhuis’ refereeing.

“It’s not his job to get out of the way, it’s the players job to put the ball in the right place (not out of play, to an opponent or at the ref),” tweeted user @bluepants1878.

“The ref however has no business whatsoever being on that spot and narrowing the players options in such a dangerous position.”

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić will officiate the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, UEFA said Monday.

The 44-year-old Vinčić, who also worked the 2022 Europa League final when Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers, will be in charge of the June 1 game at Wembley Stadium.

It continues a good run for Slovenian referees in major European games.

This will be the fourth UEFA final handled by a Slovenian referee since Damir Skomina was picked for the 2017 Europa League title game. Dutch and Spanish referees are next best with three men’s finals in that time.

Also Monday, UEFA picked English referee Rebecca Welch for the Women’s Champions League final, István Kovács of Romania for the Europa League final and Artur Soares Dias of Portugal for the Europa Conference League final.

Vinčić has handled five Champions League games this season without awarding a penalty kick or showing a red card. Among his games was Dortmund’s 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the quarterfinals.

He also refereed two games at the 2022 World Cup, including eventual winner Argentina’s 2-1 loss in its opening match against Saudi Arabia.

Kovács also will work his second European final. He refereed the inaugural Europa Conference League final in 2022 when Roma beat Feyenoord.

All three men picked Monday are on UEFA’s team of match officials for the European Championship that starts June 14 in Germany.

The Europa League final between Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta is in Dublin on May 22.

The Women’s Champions League final between defending champion Barcelona and Lyon is on May 25 in Bilbao, Spain.

The Fiorentina vs. Olympiakos final of the Europa Conference League is in Athens on May 29.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Referee Slavko Vincic during the Nations League semifinal soccer match between the Spain and Italy at De Grolsch Veste stadium in Enschede, eastern Netherlands, on June 15, 2023. The referee for the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will be Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia, UEFA said Monday May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)