World Cup final referee: I should have sent off Nigel de Jong
Howard Webb, the referee of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in South Africa, today admitted that he should have shown Nigel de Jong a red card in football’s biggest match.
The Dutch midfielder was shown a yellow card after placing his studs into Xabi Alonso’s chest in a high challenge during the game in Johannesburg, which Spain won 1-0 after an extra-time strike by Andreas Iniesta.
Webb dished out 14 yellow cards during the game and also sent off Holland defender Johnny Heitinga, but said that he should also have dismissed de Jong from the field of play.
He explained why he declined to red card de Jong, telling reporters that: "Having seen it again from my armchair several times in slow motion and from different angles I can see that it was a red-card offence. What I couldn't see was the actual contact on Alonso through his back . . . the view was obstructed somewhat. I could see the foot was high and from Alonso's reaction there must have been some contact. I wasn't prepared to fill in the blanks in my head to say that was possibly a red-card offence."
The English referee was pleased with his overall display in the game and had some regret at marring such a high-profile occasion with so many yellow cards but he felt that he had no other option. The 39-year-old said that: "We certainly came off that field feeling we'd done the best job we could in difficult circumstances."
Webb added that he was honoured to have been entrusted by the sport’s governing body to take charge of the July 11 final along with his assistants Michael Mullarkey and Darren Cann. He said that: "It was a great honour to be appointed for that game — the pinnacle of our careers as well as the players — and one that we're very proud of. It was quite a memorable night for many reasons and one that will live in our memories forever."
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