Holland’s violent feat in the World Cup final has landed the Dutch FA a paltry fine of £9,244.
Eight Holland players were revealed yellow cards and one – John Heitinga – was sent off by English referee Howard Webb through the most ill-disciplined World Cup final in history. FIFA yesterday responded with a nominal fine, a sum which looks even lesser set against the £15m awarded to the Dutch for dying runners-up.
Champions Spain were themselves fined £6,162 for individual shown five yellow cards, but it is the punishment of Holland, whose plans were condemned as ‘anti-football’ by Johan Cruyff, which will dismay the football world. The Dutch FA also face a recompense claim from Bayern Munich, who have reacted angrily to news that Arjen Robben will be sidelined for eight weeks as a result of his early return from a hamstring wound sustained in a warm-up game to play five matches at the World Cup.
Tests have since found that a constrain tear was not properly diagnosed earlier.