Source: Telegraph
Newcastle demand FA punish Manchester City's Nigel de Jong
De Jong, dropped from Holland's squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Moldova and Sweden by coach Bert van Marwijk as a result of the challenge, has been accused by Newcastle United defender Jose Enrique of injuring Ben Arfa with a 'criminal' tackle and told that he should be banned for the duration of the Frenchman's recovery period.[LNB]Although Newcastle had initially taken a diplomatic line, with assistant manager Colin Calderwood claiming after the game that,'I wouldn't want to take that type of challenge out of our football,' the club confirmed on Tuesday night that they now want De Jong to be punished retrospectively.[LNB] Related ArticlesMancini defends 'great player' De JongHughton 'devastated' for Ben ArfaCarroll backed for England, despite snubHughton: Ben Arfa tackle unnecessaryHolland drop De Jong for Ben Arfa tackleMan City 2 Newcastle United 1A club statement said: 'Newcastle United have today written a strongly worded letter to the Football Association in relation to the tackle by Manchester City's Nigel de Jong on Hatem Ben Arfa in Sunday's Premier League fixture, which resulted in Ben Arfa sustaining a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg.[LNB]'The club has asked the FA for the appropriate action to be taken against De Jong for the tackle which, in the club's opinion, was unnecessary and used excessive force.'[LNB]With referee Martin Atkinson confirming to the FA that he saw the tackle and chose not to take action, sources within the governing body have admitted that Fifa regulations prevent action being taken against De Jong retrospectively.[LNB]There is a recent precedent of retrospective action being issued, however, with City's Ben Thatcher being banned for eight games for elbowing Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes during a Premier League fixture in Aug 2006.[LNB]Newcastle's move has privately been dismissed as opportunism, following two days of furore around the incident, by senior figures at City and the club were stressing that they are standing fully behind De Jong.[LNB]Having left Bolton's USA midfielder Stuart Holden with a broken leg following a challenge during a friendly international in March, prior to his 'kung-fu' kick into the chest of Spain Xabi Alonso during the World Cup final, De Jong's removal from the Dutch squad has been welcomed by Cruyff, the country's most iconic football figure.[LNB]Cruyff said: 'He's crossed the line two or three times now. He needs to understand he is an example to all the young players and I think it is a very good decision.'[LNB]With Ben Arfa likely to be sidelined for at least six months, Newcastle full-back Enrique insists De Jong should be banned for a similar period. [LNB]Enrique said: 'They should ban De Jong until Ben Arfa can play again. His tackle was criminal.[LNB]'He already injured another player (Holden) last season. If it was (Wayne) Rooney who was injured instead of Ben Arfa, they (Football Association) would make an example of him.[LNB]'The referee (Atkinson) was laughable the worst I have seen. He didn't even give a foul for the challenge.[LNB]'De Jong is one of those players who walks a tightrope every time he plays. As far as I know, he didn't even come to say sorry after the match.'[LNB]Ben Arfa's international team-mate, Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri, added: 'The referee saw Hatem exit on a stretcher with an oxygen mask yet he didn't punish De Jong. It's that that has to change in England.[LNB]'Are we protected enough in England? I don't think so.' [LNB][LNB][LNB]
