The most hated man in Holland: English World Cup referee Howard Webb faces Dutch fury

**Loki** · 07-12-2010, 11:40 PM

The most hated man in Holland: English World Cup referee Howard Webb faces Dutch fury

English referee Howard Webb was facing an orange tide of criticism today after handing out a record 14 cards during a tumultuous World Cup final.

Dutch players who reacted furiously after their extra-time defeat to Spain continued with the tirade, blaming the tournament's leading referee for their loss.

Media outlets in the Netherlands also rounded on Webb, blaming him for missing a corner for Holland in the build-up to the goal and a foul which could have led to a red card for match winner Andres Iniesta.

But the former police sergeant can take some comfort from the support of the Fifa President Sepp Blatter and his wife Kay.

Dutch journalists reacted angrily to the final, with one newspaper labelling Webb a 'chump'.

An article in AD Sportwereld said: 'The Dutch national team perished in the World Cup final - thanks largely to a chump of a referee.

'It was a riveting battle, emerging through the tension but the Philistines were helped by Howard Webb, a controversial referee from England.

'He hopped across the pitch, handing out cards, each time preceding the act with an irritating address of the culprit.

'The teams deserved a referee in top form but that was certainly not the case with Webb.

'Spain's winning goal was understandably celebrated passionately by the Spaniards but the blunder by Webb which came before - he missed an obvious corner for Holland, took the shine off it, at least for the Dutch.'

De Telegraaf noted: 'The referee failed to calm the mood in 120 minutes. That he was booed at the final ceremony by both the Dutch and Spanish fans was significant.'

Criticism of Webb also appeared in the Spanish media, whose members appeared not to have forgiven him for errors in the group stages.

In El Mundo Deportivo it said: 'Holland were able to count on an unexpected ally: referee Howard Webb, who allowed the Dutch to get away with brutal fouls time and time again.

'Holland committed 28 fouls and the referee should have sent off De Jong for a karate kick on Xabi Alonso,' La Vanguardia opined, before adding: '(Wesley) Sneijder was also let off and Howard Webb failed to award a penalty for a Heitinga foul on Xavi.'

Wesley Sneijder, one of three members of the starting Dutch line-up not to be booked by Webb, said: 'He has robbed us. This really is a disgrace to football. It really shouldn't have happened.

'First I shot a free kick that hit the wall and then the Spanish keeper touched it before going behind. What does the referee do? The whistle was not for a corner.

'In the following attack, Iniesta is at first offside. Webb doesn't whistle and then Iniesta gets the ball and scores.

'And earlier there was a moment with Iniesta, he kicked Van Bommel when the ball was not there. The fourth official saw the moment and he said, "Yeah, I saw it". I think if you saw it it's a red card.'

'That's three incidents in a short space of time. It is a scandal it has to end this way.'

Arsenal star Robin van Persie speculated that leniency showed by Webb to Spanish players was a result of guilt he felt for the way he refereed the champions earlier in the tournament.

'What was this man doing,' said the striker of Webb. 'He made three big errors in extra time of a World Cup final. Believe me, this really hurts.

'Even after Heitinga's red card I still felt we could be world champions. With penalty kicks we'd at least have a 50 per cent chance.

'He whistled four minutes from time, but not for a corner, and later overlooks Iniesta being in an offside position.

'Iniesta should not have been on the pitch because he kicked Van Bommel. He also should have shown (Carles) Puyol a second yellow card for trying to knock down (Arjen) Robben.

'I don't say it's only down to the referee. We missed a very good chance. But the referee has been decisive.

'Perhaps it was because Spain were wronged in a group match against Switzerland (which Webb refereed)? Let me say nothing.'

However, under-fire Webb was backed by Fifa boss Sepp Blatter and understandably his wife who said she had 'every confidence' in her husband.

Blatter said: 'The final was not exactly what I expected in terms of fair play. It's not up to me [to] judge the performances of the officials, I can only say it was a very hard task that the referee trio had on the field of play.

'It was not easy, really not easy and they were really not helped in this task I can say.'

Kay Webb, who was unable to watch much of the game because she was too nervous, told GMTV she thought the 38-year-old Yorkshireman was 'brilliant'.

'I have every confidence in him,' she said.

Father-of-three Webb was the first Englishman to referee a World Cup final since 1974, and was watched by an estimated TV audience of 750 million.

**The Ripper** · 07-12-2010, 11:42 PM

What a bunch of sore losers.

**~~Beorn~~** · 07-12-2010, 11:49 PM

'Oranges and Lemons' say the bells of St. Clements.

**Oinakos Growion** · 07-12-2010, 11:49 PM

Funny. The Spanish press and fans fiercely criticised the ref too because of his wrong decisions and allowing the Dutch to "intimidate" him during the game with constant protests.
But it was all forgotten within hours because they won, as it normally happens.

Can't people just see he simply is a bad referee in general and that he wasn't up to the task and will never be?

**~~Beorn~~** · 07-12-2010, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by Oinakos Growion

Can't people just see he simply is a bad referee in general and that he wasn't up to the task and will never be?

He's not a bad referee, in fact I think he's one of the best since Elleray, but it's that he "was" quietly told not to spoil such a lucrative event by red carding multi-million pound interests. The amount of money that sits on each player alone in sporting contracts must be unbelievable. Who remembers that zombie formerly known as Ronaldo that played in the France - Brazil World Cup final? How much was Nike set to lose if he didn't play? Oop! No he's suddenly playing at the last minute.

Money. Money. Money.

**Oinakos Growion** · 07-13-2010, 12:00 AM

Well, Fabregas actually said good things about him on TV before the World Cup because he knows him from England. But he reffed in the last Euro I think and was far from impressive. He also did the Switzerland-Spain game and was also bad (for both teams).
He might be alright at some other level, but he's not good enough for a world cup final. I even think he was a bit shaky at some stages.

**antonio** · 07-13-2010, 12:03 AM

I dont know if he's a good or a bad referee, but I liked the way he managed the game. Obviously Holland could be playing with 10 from first time middle. But this would be bad for the spectacle. It's was a competitive match and that's all what I want from a modern football game where all footballers (even the better ones) behave like robots with their personal initiative reduced to a minimum.

Ps. Spanish fans should not forget that even a clearer red card (just by the fact of being a manifest goal chance) had to be shown at Puyol vs Robben.

**Loki** · 07-13-2010, 12:16 AM

Howard Webb: My two hours of hell - English referee 'drained' by World Cup final ordeal

English referee Howard Webb has described Sunday's World Cup final as 'the most difficult two hours' of his career.

The Rotherham official admitted he was 'physically and emotionally drained' following the hellish experience of handing out a record 13 yellow cards and one red during Spain's 1-0 extra-time win over a brutal Holland side.