Nigel De Jong dropped from Holland squad for tackle
Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong has been dropped from Holland’s squad for their UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying matches.
A heavy challenge by the midfielder in City’s English Premier League win over Newcastle United on Sunday saw winger Hatem Ben Arfa suffer a horror double leg break. Ben Arfa underwent surgery on Monday
and is expected to be on the sidelines for at least six months, according to his agent.
De Jong has been criticised by several pundits for the tackle and, as a result, Holland national team coach Bert Van Marwijk revealed on Monday that he has decided to drop the 25-year-old for the squad
to take on Moldova and Sweden.
'Wild and unnecessary' challenge
The coach told the Dutch newspaper
Algemeen Dagblad that he was shocked by the challenge.
"I've seen the pictures back. It was a wild and unnecessary offence. He went in much too hard. It is unfortunate, especially since he does not need to do it. The funny thing is that the referee did not
even show a yellow card for it. Apparently, there are other standards (in England). I just told the players. I told them that I saw no other option. In the future I will agree with Nigel to talk. Now I want the staff and the players to concentrate on the next
two important qualifiers."
It is not the first time that De Jong has come under scrutiny for his challenges, however.
A tackle by the defensive midfielder on Bolton Wanderers’ Stuart Holden back in March in an international friendly left the United States international with a fractured fibula.
Meanwhile, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, the player was lucky to stay on the pitch as he only received a yellow card for a challenge which saw him place his boot into the chest of Spain midfielder
Xabi Alonso.
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