Part 2 - English Premier League: Losers of the 7th weekend
Another footballer who covered himself in a shower of shame this weekend was Nigel de Jong. One would remember, Nigel for his absolute belter of a challenge on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 FIFA World Cup but you just can’t help blame the lad for his aggressive nature
and the violent tackles that are produced as a result of this nature’s application. As always after a controversial incident, people come out and try to defend the aggressor, especially in football. The most stereotypical excuse that has come into use in recent
times is that “he is not that type of a player.”
When Nigel tackled Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final in South Africa by using his studs to bring Alonso to the ground by kicking him right in the chest, some might have mistaken the gesture to be from a Hollywood tale describing
Spartan culture, some even went as far as believing that it was an honest attempt at giving Alonso a heart attack. Nonetheless, it was horrific, it was detestable and it should be stamped out of the game.
After the World Cup final, De Jong came out and said that the game was turning soft. He openly said that modern football is becoming an easy spectacle where tackles are being slowly and surely edited. He might be right to a certain
extent but Nigel should be informed without any uncertainties that such tackles, like the ones he excels in weren’t in the game in the first place, thus the question of their removal or inclusion doesn’t even arise.
The latest episode of Nigel the “terminator” de Jong came in Newcastle’s match against Manchester City at the East Lands stadium which is also called the City of Manchester Stadium. This time the target was English Premier League’s
newcomer, Ben Arfa. Arfa made his move from the French football league to Newcastle United on a loan deal and had impressed for the Magpies before he was taken down by De Jong. The method of execution was a two footed tackle, this time the weapon was targeted
at the subject’s ankle rather than his chest.
The result as everyone knows now is that Ben Arfa is out for a lengthy period of time as De Jong’s two footed challenge has caused him to suffer from a broken tibia and fibula. In lay man terms, Ben Arfa has broken his ankle as
well as his leg as a result of the challenge. After this incredibly repugnant incident, Manchester City went onto win the match by two goals to one, however City were of course not going to be the bigger club and admit their player’s mistakes. Their assistant
manager, Brian Kidd came out with the traditional excuse as he stated that Nigel is not that type of a player who would injure people on purpose. He added that, he is as honest as the day is long. If this wasn’t enough, he comforted everyone by saying that
everybody knows that Nigel isn’t of that sort.
The tragedy is that everyone does know. De Jong broke Holden’s leg way back in March/April of 2010 and this was before the FIFA 2010 World Cup. This casualty occurred during Holland’s friendly with U.S.A. and due to his broken
Fibula; Stuart Holden was unable to participate in the 2010 World Cup for United States of American. De Jong pulled this horror act out of the bag when he was on international duty with his international side. So with Ben Arfa on the sidelines now with a broken
leg, De Jong’s tally of legs broken in 2010 comes to “two”. Something must be done to punish De Jong; F.A should seriously consider appropriate disciplinary action against the Dutchman. Football is a man’s sport indeed. But it is not a one for animals.
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