Manchester City's Nigel de Jong has been dropped from the Holland squad after his 'wild' tackle left Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg.
Midfielder dropped from Holland squad after tackle on Ben Arfa
Manchester City's Nigel de Jong has been dropped from the Holland squad after his 'wild' tackle left Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg.
The midfielder has been axed by coach Bert van Marwijk for the forthcoming Euro 2012 Group E qualifiers against Moldova and Sweden.
Van Marwijk's decision comes after De Jong's tackle on Ben Arfa in City's 2-1 win at Eastlands on Sunday left the Newcastle player with a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg.
In a statement of the Dutch FA's
official website, van Marwijk said on Monday: "I just informed the squad and told them I saw no other possibility.
"In the near future I will discuss this matter with Nigel (de Jong) but right now we have to focus on the upcoming two matches."
Earlier, the Dutch coach hit out at the tackle, branding it both 'wild' and 'unnecessary'.
Too hard
He told the
Algemeen Dagblad newspaper: "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.
"But I have a problem with the way Nigel needlessly looks to push the limit. I am going to speak to him."
The latest controversy comes after Bolton's United States midfielder Stuart Holden suffered a fracture to his right fibula after a challenge by De Jong on international duty in March for which the City midfielder was booked.
He also caught Spain's Xabi Alonso with a chest-high challenge in the World Cup final for which he received a yellow card.
