The ‘Referee Brothers’: Stan and Kay

9 June 2024

When you look at the photo albums of Kay Meijer (assistant referee) on social media, you often see pictures of Stan Smit (referee). These top referees look alike, but are they really brothers? On Friday evening, they had the PannaNews editorial team thinking so. After thorough investigation, it turned out that apart from their looks and passion for the job, they are not brothers after all.

But who are these two gentlemen, and how did they end up at the Marveld Tournament? Stan (24) is a referee in the third division and Kay (17) officiates national youth matches in the U21, U19, and U18 age categories. Stan was asked to step in three years ago, and he enjoyed it so much that he has since become a fixture at the tournament. Kay also made his debut at the tournament three years ago, at the age of 14. This made him the youngest assistant referee at the tournament.

What makes it so enjoyable for them to be part of the officiating team at this tournament? According to Stan and Kay, it partly lies in the wide range of levels represented at the tournament, from professional football referees to assistant referees from Grol. The tournament, with regard to officiating matters, is led by Karel van den Heuvel and Wilco Lobbert and offers a unique opportunity for referees to gain experience with colleagues from different levels, such as professional football.

The opportunity to referee and assist at the top of Dutch football is a special chance for both gentlemen. Do they see this experience as a preview of future opportunities? Stan remains humble and emphasizes that he wants to take it step by step. His goal for the upcoming season is to referee in the Second Division. Kay hopes to be promoted to the highest level in national youth competitions this year and then make the transition to senior matches.

In short, while Stan and Kay may not be brothers, they share a passion for refereeing and ambitions within the officiating community.