HOME > NEWS > ARJEN ROBBEN NOT PLEASED WITH REFEREE HOWARD WEBB

Arjen Robben not pleased with referee Howard Webb

Robben not pleased with referee Webb

Posted: 2010-07-12 07:19

An angry and frustrated Netherlands winger Arjen Robben says Spain defender Carles Puyol should have been sent off with 10 minutes from time, as the Oranje lost 1-0 in the final of the World Cup.

The Barcelona stopper made a last-gasp tackle on the Bayern Munich striker, but Robben believes a penalty should have been awarded, and the defender sent off for a second bookable offence.

"When I got my second chance, the referee should have given us a free kick and Puyol a [second] yellow card," Robben told Reuters." He gave the advantage, but there was none as I could hardly move and the goalkeeper [Iker Casillas] was too close already.

"As a player, you always want to go on and especially 10 minutes before time in a World Cup final when you are heading towards the goal.

"When I missed my first chance it was simply my error. I was not patient enough and should have gone around him instead of a poor finish."

The Oranje star was also highly critical of English referee Howard Webb.

"When you play in a World Cup final, you also need a world-class referee," he added.

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tk.: 2010-07-12 09:23

couldn't agree with him more. some of the ref's decisions left a lot to be desired. he was prepared to issue a caution to the dutch for every single foul. but i believe robben should have scored the first one. well done to the racist(david villa) and spain. i wonder if australia is still a standby for the 2010 world cup, lest South Africa is not ready. i am very proudly south african. viva bafana, viva ghana, viva ivory coast, viva africa.

Von Fan: 2010-07-12 09:32

I was supporting Nertherlands but I think its just a case of sour grapes, He (Robben) should have won the game for Holland and must just shut up and accept defeat

Thabo: 2010-07-12 10:16

tk.: 2010-07-12 09:23 and Bafana: 2010-07-12 09:32, guys don't be blind by your support for the Dutch. The referee did a good job on the night and if it was not for his mature officiating the game would have ended as a contest in the first 25 minutes. Due to harsh and ill judged tackles especially from van Bommel and de Jong. Arjen should be thankful that the referee did not show de Jong a straight red card for his karate kick on the chest of Xavi Alonso. Had it not been a final I'm certain the referee would have given him a red card, but the referee decided not to spoil the final by flashing a deserved red card and by doing so he kept Netherlands in the game.To me by the end of the first half both van Bommel and de Jong should have seen red cards.

Swona Champ!: 2010-07-12 10:27

to be honest, Roben should not have acted that way, he knows very well that they were a bit rough themselves, even the game against Brasil, they were luck not to have got a red card, they should have been a man down as early as the first half, and the ref did not see the hands he was watching contact on their feet, and Puolo was lucky, luck is what makes this game exciting

tk.: 2010-07-12 10:28

Thabo: 2010-07-12 10:16
don't get me wrong thabo, i agree, that karate kick foul was supposed to be a straight red. but i believe there were times where spain players were supposed to be cautioned. yes robben is notorious for diving but i think this time he is right. anyway it does not matter too much as to who won because at the end of the day i b'lieve Mzansti was the winner for staging such a succesful event. proudly south african.

Svai: 2010-07-12 10:35

Thabo: 2010-07-12 10:16,

But you partly agree with Robben that the referee was not on the ball. He feared to make the big decisions that must be made in a cup final. He should have red carded De Jong yet he feared criticism. Had it been an African referee the commentators would have pointed out that he is incapable of making big decisions because of inexperience now that he is a European referee they spin bad decisions and pin them on experience. How stupid. If you give somebody a yellow card and not a "deserved red card" as a referee then you are a bad referee period! It doesn't matter whether you are refereeing a final or not. Rules must be applied continuosly and consistently. Webb had a stage fright. He kept on interfering with play and interrupting the game to the extent that he got hit by the ball at some stage. That again is not a sign of a world class referee. Our Jerome Damon would have done a better job than this Webb.

Swona Champ!: 2010-07-12 10:39

anyway, we all heard what Mrs Webb said about her husband before the game, she said since he cannot handle simple family issues, she does not believe he is capable of handling a game of this magnitude!

Svai: 2010-07-12 10:40

Thabo: 2010-07-12 10:16,

But you partly agree with Robben that the referee was not on the ball. He feared to make the big decisions that must be made in a cup final. He should have red carded De Jong yet he feared criticism. Had it been an African referee the commentators would have pointed out that he is incapable of making big decisions because of inexperience now that he is a European referee they spin bad decisions and pin them on experience. How stupid. If you give somebody a yellow card and not a "deserved red card" as a referee then you are a bad referee period! It doesn't matter whether you are refereeing a final or not. Rules must be applied continuosly and consistently. Webb had a stage fright. He kept on interfering with play and interrupting the game to the extent that he got hit by the ball at some stage. That again is not a sign of a world class referee. Our Jerome Damon would have done a better job than this Webb.

KidKudu7: 2010-07-12 10:55

What a pathetic referee. This English idiot is "hell" himself. He killed the Netherlands last nite.

Maurel: 2010-07-12 11:33

Rubben should have went as well for kicking the ball after Mr. Webb blew up his whistle, he should have got a second yellow card, in so doing forces the Afrikaner to finish the game with 9 man.

Skepe Mketule: 2010-07-12 11:36

SHUT UP ROBEN YOU SCREWED SOME CLEAR CUTS GOALS

thapedi: 2010-07-12 14:36

d

Swona Champ!: 2010-07-12 15:42

I just dont know which game those who believe that by giving Puyol a red card, the Dutch should have won, they failled, in fact this Roben cow failled to score a goal that even Teko should have converted with ease. Spain played well, they were not scared, they respected them, and they got a chance, they won gold, with that one chance!

leponapona: 2010-07-12 16:19

he missed a 1 on 1,now he wants a to blame it to the ref, what a shame, yes i agree there were many dubious decisions against both teams,what about a penalty? Xavi was about to kick the ball when a defender blocked him by puting his leg in front of the strikers leg, he didnt go for the ball he just wanted to make sure that the striker doesnt do any contact with the ball.that was a penalty no doubt, again the ref gave them (Netherland) benefit of a doubt.

ken gadaffi: 2010-07-12 16:20

Howard webb had a really difficult game and at the end, i do think he did well. The dutch didnt help themselves by being too hard on the Spaniards. I do understand why the dutch decided to play that way because the only way to stop the spaniards was to mark them one on one which the dutch tried to do but because the spaniards were sleeky and quite skill full, they were often caught by the dutch and in most of the instances Howard had no choice than to issue the card.

De jong and Van Brommel were indeed lucky to have remained on the pitch at half time, nonetheless i understand why Webb decided not to show red earlier on but it was obvious that a red card was written all over the match going by the way the Dutch approached the game.

Playing dirty was uncharacteristic of the Dutch but in this occasion they had no choice and it nearly paid off if only Arjen took his chance when it mattered most.

In the end, the better side won and kudos to both team for putting up a great show. The true winners though is SOUTH AFRICA for proving doubting thomases wrong and showing that AFRICA has come of Age.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

KidKudu7: 2010-07-12 16:39

@ Ken Gadaffi

I agree with you here my brother but what about the Carles Puyol foul on Robben which was not punished by the referee??? To me this guy really failed the whole world. We all heard what Mrs Webb said about her husband before the game, she said since he cannot handle simple family issues, she does not believe he is ''capable of handling a game of this magnitude''!!!

KidKudu7: 2010-07-12 16:42

...And besides this guy is Sergeant Cop. No wonder he always used "excessive force" during the game by issuing countless yellow cards unnecessary too!!!

JMasterJ: 2010-07-12 19:21

The REF killed the game.....he was pathetic...

JMasterJ: 2010-07-12 19:21

The REF killed the game.....he was pathetic...

prince711: 2010-07-13 20:29

Yes, Robben is right, This referee is against football ethics.

mmohd: 2010-07-14 04:13

For the guys here who really don't know what kind of conspiracy we've been watching through the month, check the video. And by the way why do you think the german muller got a yellow card in the match against argentina?? do you really think he deserved it or because he had to miss the match against Spain. Some times you have to think why someone has to divert the world's attention to the big referee issues; like Lampards un acknowleged goal or Teves offside goal so that the world would end up saying 'oh well this is football and mistakes happen all times. In my opinion it had to be done that way so no one would care much about what the referees did in all their matches not just the one with Netherlands. If we had to do it all over again then Spain should've not been in the quarter-final. Some earlier teams were already pissed-off before Netherlands.. watch the video and if their were any justice the final should've been between Netherlands and Germany:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HVrftQUjq4

mmohd: 2010-07-14 04:27

THESE ARE COUPLE OF MORE JUST TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT KIND OF HOLLYWOOD ARTISTS WE'VE SEEN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-IcvwsYm9w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAA2VL_MuhM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcGvYgzq6yg&feature=related

mmohd: 2010-07-14 04:41

WE HAVE NOTHING BUT TO FORGET THE REFEREES AND MOVE ON. BUT SPAIN REALLY HAVE TO FIND A CURE FOR THEIR GRAVITY PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY KEEP FALLING AND WE WANT TO WATCH FOOTBALL NOT DIVING LESSONS!!
SADLY WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 4 YEARS TO WATCH NETHERLANDS. SCHNIDER AND ROBBEN WILL APPROACH 30.. IF THEY WERE LUCKY TO REACH THE FINAL IN 2014 BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 32 YEARS!!!

john: 2010-07-16 20:22

To be frank Mr. Webb did a very good job, he is perfect that day. He fovour both sides, Spain and Netherlands. Any body who say the ref did't do well a caward.

john: 2010-07-16 20:32

To be frank Mr. Webb did a very good job, he is perfect that day. He fovour both sides, Spain and Netherlands. Any body who say the ref did't do well a caward.