Newcastle United appeal to FA over Nigel De Jong case
English Premier League side Newcastle United have appealed to the English Football Association over a tackle by Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong which left Hatem Ben Arfa with a double leg break.
But the FA may not be able to issue any retroactive punishment to the player. De Jong’s challenge, which took place when the sides met in the league on Sunday, was spotted by Martin Atkinson, but the referee did not issue the Dutchman a yellow or red card.
In a statement released by Newcastle, the team said, "Newcastle have written a strongly worded letter to the Football Association in relation to the tackle by Manchester City's Nigel de Jong on Hatem Ben Arfa in Sunday's Premier League fixture, which resulted
in Ben Arfa sustaining a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg. The club has asked the FA for the appropriate action to be taken against De Jong for the tackle which, in the club's, opinion was unnecessary and used excessive force."
Surgery on double leg-break
On-loan Marseille winger Ben Arfa had his tibia and fibula broken in the challenge, and faces several months out of action after undergoing surgery.
De Jong has been punished for the strong challenge by Holland national team coach Bert van Marwijk, who has left the player out of the squad for upcoming UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying matches against Moldova and Sweden.
Van Marwijk has also said that he will talk to the 25-year-old about the overly aggressive nature he employs in many of his challenges.
The midfielder has caused controversy on several occasions this year, having broken Bolton Wanderers’ Stuart Holden’s leg in an international friendly against the United States. He was also lucky to stay on the pitch after a challenge in the 2010 FIFA World
Cup final, which saw him place his boot into the chest of Spain’s Xabi Alonso.
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