Holland coach Bert van Marwijk has dropped Nigel de Jong from his squad after the Manchester City midfielder broke the leg of Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa with a hefty challenge.
Van Marwijk told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad: “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.
“I just told the players. I told them that I saw no other option. In the future I will agree with Nigel to talk. Now I want the staff and the players to concentrate on the next two important qualifiers.”
The France international was injured in a tackle by De Jong in the third minute of Sunday’s match, which City won 2-1.
Newcastle said x-rays confirmed Ben Arfa had suffered a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg and would undergo surgery Monday morning.
