Former referee Howard Webb has admitted he should have sent off Nigel de Jong in the World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands in 2010.
De Jong was shown just a yellow card by Webb after a dangerous kung-fu tackle on Xabi Alonso in the 28th minute.
Webb said he would have sent the Dutchman off if he had seen the incident clearly.
I still thought I got it right on the pitch, he told BT Sport. So I get back into the dressing room and my assistant referee has gone to his pocket and got his phone out, and his face dropped.
I said, What’s wrong? and he said, De Jong should have been red carded, the guy from the referee headquarters is saying he should have been red carded’.
I went, You’re joking?’. I got my phone out, a mate of mine in the police said Howard, it’s not a red card, it’s an arrestable offence’.
Of course [I should have sent him off]. Even in the first minute of a World Cup final, if I’ve seen it clearly enough.
Spain went on to win the showpiece event thanks to a goal from Andres Iniesta in the 116th minute.
