Source: Team_Talk
Taylor urges De Jong to play fair
igel de Jong's controversial axing from the Dutch national squad could be a legacy from the World Cup final, according to Gordon Taylor.[LNB] De Jong rather surprisingly avoided any sanction from referee Martin Atkinson for the tackle in which Newcastle striker Hatem Ben Arfa suffered a double leg-break at Manchester City last Sunday.[LNB]Yet the Dutch midfielder has still been widely condemned, including back home in Holland, where national team boss Bert van Marwijk took the unusual step of omitting De Jong from his squad to face Moldova and Sweden in two important Euro 2012 qualifiers over the coming days.[LNB]Without entirely exonerating De Jong, English players' union chief Taylor does feel Van Marwijk's decision was probably influenced by the huge amount of negative publicity Holland attracted for their combative approach to the World Cup final with Spain.[LNB]Most observers felt the Dutch completely spoiled the showpiece and led to referee Howard Webb showing 14 yellow cards, plus a red, and later admitting he should have sent De Jong off for a chest-high, studs-first challenge on Xabi Alonso.[LNB]"There was a lot of criticism for the way Holland approached the final," said Taylor.[LNB]"Maybe it was a tactical approach and the only way they could come to terms with a very skilful Spanish side.[LNB]"There is nothing wrong with getting into people's faces, harassing them and intimidating them as long as it is within the rules.[LNB]"According to the referee on Sunday, the tackle that caused the broken leg was not a foul. Other people will have other opinions.[LNB]"Nigel is a very committed player. He goes in strongly in a physical contact sport.[LNB]"However, you also have a duty of care to your fellow professionals."[LNB]De Jong's fellow Dutchman Theo van Seggelen, the general secretary of global players' union FIFPro, believes the midfielder will actually benefit from his short enforced break.[LNB]"It is a difficult time for Nigel," said Van Seggelen.[LNB]"I don't believe there is a player in the world - and we have 50,000 members - who would deliberately try to injure someone else. That would not be acceptable.[LNB]"But maybe it is good that for a couple of days he can think about the fact he is not playing.[LNB]"It is good for him to think about the way he plays and work out whether he should be a little bit more careful in future.[LNB]"I hope he learns something."
