Howard Webb a 'chump' says Dutch press

THE Dutch media has led the criticism of Howard Webb after Holland’s defeat at the World Cup final.

AD Sportwereld called him a “chump”

It wrote: “The Dutch national team perished in the World Cup final - thanks largely to a chump of a referee.

"It was a riveting battle, emerging through the tension but the Philistines were helped by Howard Webb, a controversial referee from England.

"He hopped across the pitch, handing out cards, each time preceding the act with an irritating address of the culprit.

"Spain's winning goal was understandably celebrated passionately by the Spaniards but the blunder by Webb which came before - he missed an obvious corner for Holland, took the shine off it, at least for the Dutch."

De Telegraaf said: "The referee failed to calm the mood in 120 minutes. That he was booed at the final ceremony by both the Dutch and Spanish fans was significant."

The paper added that the tone of the game had been unpleasant. It added: "it was not helped by referee Webb.

In Spain, El Mundo Sportivo wrote: “Bert Van Marwyk (the Dutch coach) chose a very aggressive game plan to immediately unsettle Del Bosque. And  he almost succeeded, because he found an unexpected ally – the referee Howard Webb, who repeatedly forgave the Dutch rudeness ."

Webb himself has been keeping a low profile, despite the media laying siege to his house in Rotherham.

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We did our best, says Howard

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