The referee stopped the match to answer a phone call.

Dutch referee Danny Makkelie created an unprecedented event in world football history during the Dutch National Cup final.

AZ Alkmaar secured a convincing 5-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen, with goals from Mees de Wit, Sven Mijnans, Peer Koopmeiners, Kees Smit, and Troy Parrott, thereby officially winning the KNVB Cup for the fifth time in their history.

However, the non-professional highlight came from a rare incident on the field. While AZ was leading 3-0, plain-clothed security personnel in the stands detected signs that some aggressive NEC fans might be preparing to use unauthorized flares and fireworks in reaction to the match's developments, posing a potential security risk. Faced with this threat, the authorities immediately contacted referee Danny Makkelie directly to coordinate handling the situation and ensure the safety of the match.

Immediately afterward, the referee briefly left the field, moving to the sideline area where he was handed a mobile phone. After listening to the call, he quickly returned to the pitch to resume officiating the match normally.

Danny Makkelie has to answer phone during cup finalpic.twitter.com/WDFTTVGeAH

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) April 20, 2026

This incident sparked discussions among fans on social media.

One person joked: “He had to go home because the food was ready...”

Another commented: “At least we should be glad he didn't make a controversial decision right after that, otherwise it would have been very suspicious.”

Another opinion questioned: “Who was the referee talking to on the phone while the match was ongoing?”

Someone else remarked: “Not just unusual, but something never seen before.”

The truth was clarified just hours after the match. According to sources, the 43-year-old referee in black had a discussion with some officials from the Dutch Football Association regarding flares being thrown from the stands onto the pitch, as well as security measures during the match.

Danny Makkelie is one of the world's top Dutch referees, known for his decisiveness and stern officiating style. With his experience as a police inspector, he always keeps a cool head in heated matches. Makkelie was entrusted with officiating the 2020 Europa League final between Sevilla and Inter.

Additionally, he is also associated with major controversial decisions, notably the penalty in the Euro 2020 semifinal between England and Denmark, or the situation where he denied a clear goal by Cristiano Ronaldo in the match against Serbia during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.