Robin van Persie FUMES after his opponents are allowed to play with TWELVE MEN in the Dutch top flight

Robin van Persie was left fuming after his side momentarily played against 12-men in the Eredivisie. 

The Dutchman’s Heerenveen were 2-1 up at home against against Fortuna Sittard in a mid-table clash on Saturday when the bizarre incident occurred. 

Fortuna Sittard made two substitution with a minute left on the clock but one player failed to leave the pitch – which resulted in them having an extra player on the pitch. 

The visitors were then awarded a corner and equalised from it in the 90th minutes thanks to a header by defender Rodrigo Guth, who ensured the points were shared. 

And Van Persie slammed the ‘scandalous’ decision after his side missed the chance to leapfrog their opponents in the league table. 

‘Twelve against eleven. I didn’t know that was allowed, but apparently it is,’ the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker told ESPN.

Heerenveen were momentarily forced to play with 12-men in the latter stages of the match

Rodrigo Guth (second right) scored a late header Fortuna Sittard to ensure spoils were shared

‘It can’t be right that they’re playing with twelve men for a minute before that throw-in and corner. 

‘I asked him if they shouldn’t do anything with it. For example, reverse the goal. It can’t be right. I think this is really scandalous. 

‘If they’re playing with twelve men, we get a throw-in against us, so it certainly had an effect. In addition, the rules state that it’s eleven against eleven and not twelve against eleven.’ 

Levi Sman gave Van Persie’s Heerenveen the lead after eight minutes and Fortuna Sittard were on level terms seven minutes later thanks to a penalty by Kristoffer Peterson. 

Teenager Eser Gurbuz finished from close-range to put Heerenveen 2-1 up with eight minutes remaining before the late drama. 

Van Persie was appointed as Heerenveen’s head coach last May and they suffered a thumping 9-1 defeat by AZ Alkmaar in his fourth game in charge earlier this season.