ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Newcastle United

Posted by Marc Duffy on 10/06/2010

I am gutted for Hatem Ben-Arfa. Young lad, new club, new country only to have it possibly ruined all so quickly by a footballing nut job.
I didn't need a TV replay to see that de Jong's tackle was reckless - despite the totally incompetent Martin Atkinson waving play on and giving City a free kick moments later for a nothing challenge from Tiote. Failing to spot a leg snapping challenge merely set the tone for Atkinson's obvious City bias, but that is a different story.
Mackem fan Chris Waddle described it as a "Grite tackle" (or words to that effect) but I would like to know how a grite tackle can leave a player with his leg hanging off?

This incident seems to have polarised the footballing public and professionals in England with the vast majority heavily condemning de Jong and the rest (mainly ex footballers and City fans) backing his actions. Even Newcastle's assistant Colin Calderwood came out with some ridiculous comments defending de Jong on national radio through the week - totally contradicting the clubs official and commendable stance. He has received the backing of graceful beautiful game players like Mark van Bommel and Graham Roberts - I'm just waiting for Graeme Souness, Roy Keane and Osama Bin Laden to come out and plead his case.

Man City coach Brian Kidd is adamant that de Jong is "not that type of lad". I'm not sure Yuto Nagatomo, Stuart Holden, Xabi Alonso or Hatem would agree....

The Dutch FA have taken a highly commendable stance and he will not be considered for selection. If only the English FA had some backbone too - I know they are dictated to by FIFA and UEFA, but challenge it! van Marwijk was disgusted by the tackle and was quick to condemn his actions - this makes a farce of those arguments defending him. What do van Marwijk or Holland have to gain from this? They have more to lose as de Jong is a decent player when he is not inflicting serious injury on opponents.

I don't think that de Jong went in to that tackle to deliberately hurt Hatem (I hope he didn't) but as one Dutch football journalist put it - "That's not the point. If you are driving a new sports car and decide to drive through a village at 200MPH you aren't doing that to deliberately kill a child, but you would be responsible for your actions if that were to happen."

"It used to happen all of the time in the 70's" said Alan Brazil (repeatedly) when sticking up for de Jong. Ah well, that's OK then. Lets bring binge drinking and horrific tight shorts back to the game too.

I love watching highly competitive games with tough tackles - do not confuse that with de Jong's tackle. His tackle was excessive in pace and force. Arsene Wenger has turned down numerous jobs abroad because he loves that side to our game too - the competitiveness is the attraction, but that has to be distinguished from the ugly. It wont be long before the best foreign talent that we have in our league head elsewhere just to prolong their careers.

I am focussing on the de Jong tackle because it was one of our players that he crippled - Karl Henry is another one who looks like he's been trying to maim players all season long. Not happy with regularly hoofing Joey Barton (some ex pro's, including Alan Shearer actually seemed to find that quite amusing) he went on to break Zamora's leg in another 'unlucky fair tackle' and only by the grace of God did Jordi Gomez escape a fate similar to Hatem's.

I wonder what Brazil, Waddle and co would have had to say if it had been Joey Barton breaking a City players leg with a similar tackle? I think we all know the answer to that.

I am also bemused by the sympathy that the perpetrators of these tackles often get from ex pro's. When Shawcross smashed the leg of Ramsey I literally heard and read as many people saying that they felt sorry for Shawcross as, again, "he's not that kind of lad" as I did hear people declare sympathy for the lad lying in the hospital bed. At least Shawcross realised the consequences of his actions in that example - he left the field crying. de Jong seemed entirely indifferent about the whole thing and escaped any form of punishment. That is a bit too cold to then suggest "he is not that kind of lad". Some footballers do seem to live in a parallel universe though - Karl Henry's pathetic 'apology' is decent proof of that.

Are we over reacting?
Will this all blow over soon having only been given the airtime because of so many incidents in such a short space of time?
Will the ref's start showing red cards at every opportunity?
There have been similar clampdowns before - such as the raised arm clampdown in the 90's. What is the solution?
IS there a solution that can be implemented without there being an agenda by the judges?
Do we need to change things? I really dont buy the suggestion that the player should be banned for as long as the victim is injured.

And, as Newcastle fans are we being hypocritical? Remember Danny Guthrie's leg breaker on Craig Fagan? I for one slaughtered Guthrie for that stupid challenge.

Where do we go from here?

Follow me on Twitter @MarcSDuffy

Comments

Posted by jamie on 10/06/2010

As well as players, the clubs need to be held responsible. Longer bans for 2nd, 3rd, 4th red cards of the season need to happen. Even as far as a season ban for 5 red cards in one season (Lee Catamole would be due to make his return in 2045). However what ever the ban is, it doesn't remove the fact that NUFC are down to 24 players in there premier league squad for the rest of the season and Man City go un punished! A radical idea may be for Man City to loan NUFC a player of our choice until Ben Arfa can return.

Posted by aizat khalid on 10/06/2010

I am footballer who played as centre-back. For me, unnecessary and nasty tackle as De Jong, Guthrie, Shawcross etc must not perform on game. Sliding tackles are joy to watch if it was a clean one, like tony adam, and sometimes coloccini always perform.

Agreed.

Posted by Marc on 10/06/2010

I keep hearing 'de Jong played the ball' - SO WHAT?! Do the rules state that if you get a piece of the ball then you can proceed to do anything you like? Of course not. A foul is a foul before touching the ball AND after touching the ball

Posted by aizat khalid on 10/06/2010

A radical idea may be for Man City to loan NUFC a player of our choice until Ben Arfa can return.
Good idea. I'm agree with jamie.

Posted by jack on 10/06/2010

It seemed like I heard the leg break all the way here to Ghana and it is still echoing. The proliferation of elbows in faces, knees in thighs, grappling in the penalty area, sledging, foul mouthing the referee hardly makes it the 'beautiful game does it? Retrospective punishment by audio/video is the only answer.

Jack

Posted by Vermicious kenid on 10/06/2010

What an excellent appraisal, well written, with all the pertinent points in place. Well done.
Regardless of the team on the receiving end of this crap, it must be stopped. It's killing the beautiful game & what's more, the english game.
We are still glorifying thuggery, instead of flair.
& we wonder why england don't do well at major comps. The 'pundits' need to break ranks for a change & grow a pair of balls. I wonder how many of them had to suffer this (smashed leg)?
A Brazil, KK, Butt, Waddle all of the motd smirking goons. Shame on you!
The (not so 'sweet') FA & their lackies (refs) need a massive wake up call or a slap upside the head. If they had clamped down earlier in the season on henry, clattermole et al, this may not have happened. But seeing as it was on Barton, who, to be fair has perpetrated most of his indiscretions off the field, it was deemed ok, if not funny. Now look what's happened!
The refs & the FA's failure to act means they are culpable. & their silence speaks!

Posted by Chris on 10/06/2010

The FA will say that, because the referee saw the incident, they can't take any retrospective action. Surely in circumstances like this they have to revisit the offence and take the required action. In any event, the worrying thing is that a PL referee missed the fact that a player had his leg snapped in two and allowed play to continue; only halting it because of Tiote's 'foul'. How long was he prepared to let Ben Arfa lie there for had that not happened?

Posted by Des on 10/06/2010

Agree totally with your article, well put with valid points.
Ex Pro's patronising comments irritate me immensley.Talk Sport has an abundance of them.
De Jong is a thug, it's no coincidence that he has a history of such actions but the FA will react in their usual manner and take no action against De Jong or the hapless Atkinson who actually motioned for Hatem to 'get up' disgraceful!!

Posted by Jonathan on 10/06/2010

Good article, well put.
Am mostly devastated that another promising speck on the horizon of a season as a Toon fan has been extinguished (read injuries to Cole, Shearer, Ferguson et al)
Hard to hold the moral high ground for too long given the amount of fans ready to sing some variation of "get into them, f**k them up" at all grounds but this does expose the insights of the professional experts for the trite crap they so often spout.
Ah well, maybe we can hope for a "siege mentality" again...
PS Not sure binge drinking ever left ;)

Posted by aizat khalid on 10/07/2010

I'm totally sympathize talented player who injured badly. Lots of them suffer dramatics drop in their performance. Looks how Kieron Dyer, Eduardo Da Silva, Micheal Owen, Alan Smith perform after they experiences their own horrible injury.
I hope ben arfa will not lose his skills and will not let the incident affect in his performances whether in Newcastle, Marseille or France shirt.

Posted by Brent on 10/07/2010

De Jong didn't intend to maim Ben Arfa, but he should still be held accountable for what happened. It was the 4th minute. Sliding tackles are as artful as clever passing and they're a pillar of the game, but reckless tackles such as that one should have no place in the 'beautiful' game. Regardless of his intentions, he didn't regard Ben Arfa's safety when he lunged in. I'm tired of this thug. Poor Xabi Alonso is still trying to laser de Jong's boot imprint off his chest. When is it enough?

Posted by Sean on 10/07/2010

It was embarassing watching the clowns on MOTD 2 defending De Jong. They were saying that "its part of the game." Football is a "contact sport." It was just sickening. There was absolutely no need to make that challenge.

I hate it when people say "he is not that type of lad." That is exactly who he is. The only reason he is on the pitch is because he can't do anything else. He can't score, pass, or make a play.

It was even worse seeing Alan Shearer just laughing at Henry's savage tackles on Barton during the Wolves vs. Newcastle game. They were just laughing about it even though Henry could have ended Barton's career at least three times.

Until the mentallity in England changes horror tackles like De Jong's and Henry's will continue.

You don't see these type of tackles happen with such frequency in Spain or Italy. When they do, palyers get severly punished and referees are not incompetent.

Posted by Jerry on 10/07/2010

Good article, spot on in your assessment of De Jong and these other so called "players". As an American fan of all soccer leagues I find it difficult to watch the Prem more and more for its allowance of these outrageous tackles. Breaking players legs and making reckless challenges is not my idea of "beautiful football" nor something I want my son, as a youth player to see that is acceptable. I understand there is contact and injuries in any sport but the Prem has to crack down on this. It's a shame these young exciting players are being brought down by players who don't have the skill level to cleanly tackle and need to intimidate to play the game. I fault the FA and refs for not stopping this in its tracks.

Posted by Eric on 10/07/2010

FIFA needs to suspend de Jong from participating in the game period. He is reckless and emotionless and should not be allowed to play for some time. I thought that the challenge against Holden was a bit reckless but I kinda shrugged it off not thinking anything of it, but after the kung fu kick on Alonso, I totally thought that guy is a douche! Now this.
FIFA needs to grow a backbone and take action against de Jong and make an example of him. This sort of play should not be tolerated and all those ex-pros defending de Jong should be ashamed of themselves. It totally takes away the beauty of the game. I'm all about physical play and as a player/coach, I encourage it, but this is a whole new extreme. And as a coach, if one of my players played in that same nature consistently over the last year, I would boot his ass off the team. There should not be any room for that....so FIFA, get de Jong out before he breaks another player's leg!

Posted by R2Dad on 10/07/2010

This is a perception problem with the EPL referees. English leagues have always played this style of football, with flying tackles everywhere. However, the amount of force being exerted now is much greater than in the past since players now are bigger, stronger, and faster. Referee perception has not kept up with this fact. The LOTG talk about excessive force deserving a red card, but EPL referees don't recognize nor rule that way. That has to change, but the FA won't implement any different match instructions until after the season. de Jong's horror tackle did not garner a card, so we can expect more play just like it.

Posted by DP on 10/07/2010

de Jong should have been banned for a year after the Alonso challenge in the WC final. If you watch the video he doesn't once look at the ball as he plants his studs in Alonso's chest. It is ridiculous that we allow this anti-football to continue to occur. He is a thug and I'm surprised that more comparisons to Roy Keane's challenge on Haaland haven't been made. A lengthy ban is required to send a message to de Jong and to football that this is unacceptable!

Posted by joqqe on 10/07/2010

A bit heavy on the anger against city, but otherwise excellent article imo. I for one agree with the notion that something ought to be done about tackles like that. What does it bring to the game? Danger and excitement as anyone holding the ball risks getting cut in half? And I agree that banning the player as long as the injured player is out is ridicolous, if an accidental(but excessive) tackle ends someones career, should the tackler be banned for life as well? Maybe just more red cards for dangerous play.

Posted by manuel garcia on 10/07/2010

There are always going to be players like De Jong and the likes of Henry and all, but what is unbelievable is the amount of managers or so called Tv pundits who defend them as long as it is not one of their players that gets a leg broken. The punishments should be a lot harsher as it is becoming a farce to the "beautiful game" to have players like that around. In rugby or rugby league it is "cool" to be a tough guy and maim other players, there is a section in a sport's program here in NZ called "Smash them bro"!!! who depicts the most ourtageous tackles of the weekend!!
Jordi Gomez is a lucky guy, the Henry tackle was horrendous, it made good old Andoni aka the butcher of Bilbao look like a ballerina!!!

Posted by Rick on 10/07/2010

"When I were a lad" stories from ex-players are always a good read, though sometimes the memories of said players seems to have forgotten the aches and pains but held on to the glories part.
A bad tackle is a bad tackle. Its that simple. Whether it was made yesterday or 20 years ago does not change anything. People who repeatedly deliver bad tackles are thugs. If you excuse them enough times they will have a license to commit worse ones. Punish them hard enough (the tackles as well as the thugs) and Managers will do more to stop them being committed than the FA.

Posted by Johan Ethu on 10/08/2010

You're an idiot! He went in for a challenge and the lad ended up breaking his leg, it wasn't a Roy Keane on Alfie challenge.

I'm a Man U fan, and can tell the difference.

Everyone makes bad tackles, some are just more unfortunate. I snapped my ankle and was out for a year, just for landing funny in a game anfter another lad tapped me in the back in the air. Am i asking for him to be banned for life?

No! SO STFU!

[I always love the 'I disagree with your view so you are an idiot' posts!]

Posted by Neil on 10/08/2010

Great post mate. Finally somebody tells it how it is. Get clowns like DeJOng out of the game. Its possible to be physical and play by the rules at the same time. the lack of an apology from DeJong says everything we need to know about this incident and him as a person.

Posted by Peter Anderson on 10/08/2010

You all are really comical. The tackle was simply mistimed and awkward because Ben Arfa made a move toward De Jong as he came through. I suppose you all know De Jong so well as to judge him a thug and criminal? I agree that De Jong is often too willing to go to ground on a player but to have such a strong reaction is in poor taste. Having no real commitment to either team and watching the replay it is really hard for me to believe why everyone is making such a petty fuss? Most assuredly a broken leg is not petty but if Ben Arfa walked away from that tackle then would we be making an issue? Certainly not! The style of play for De Jong is combative, yes. He has had reckless tackles in the recent past, yes. However, this situation is simply unfortunate for both players.

Posted by Steve on 10/08/2010

The thing I find funniest is when it happened to Arsenal players everyone just called Arsene a whinger. Now its happened to a few other players from other teams and its getting the publicity it deserves.

I fear though that the only way this will be stamped out is for the injury to occur to one of England's stars. Then you will see an uproar.

All players are professionals and would never aim to hurt anyone. But we all know when you are out on that field you sometimes get a rush of blood to the head and launch urself to make a statement or express your frustration. The problem is it ends in tackles like this and injuries like this. Until appropriate penalties are in place players will make this tackles with no fear of punishment.

Posted by Adrian on 10/08/2010

I think the ban should reflect how long the injured player is out for. So if a player commits a tackled and injures a player for 6 months then they should be banned for six months. An eye for an eye and all that. Seems only fair.

Posted by Football fan on 10/08/2010

Delayed review by quorum of persons, likely one from each team in the 1st division to judge the premiership to determine the severity of the punishment, whether justified, etc.

Big bill boards and advertisements of referee's action "play on" and players "sympathy".

Man City Tevez Fan

Posted by Imrahn on 10/08/2010

i like the 'Osama Bin Laden' part. Hilarious! But one thing I'd like to point out is that players generally do not go out to intentionally injure and break another player's leg, but this does not constitute an ignorance of the action. I say we go for bans on the committing player as a result of his actions, intentionally or not. Yes, this is a sport, but 'grite' tackles must be controlled as it involves careers on the line. look at MotoGP, UFC and ice hockey; sports where regardless of the intention, any action which results in endangerment of a fellow player's well-being is rightfully punished.

Posted by Emmanuel Paoria on 10/08/2010

Am sure Sam Al, and Co. are planning another horrific tuckle somewhere. Alardyce claims to have studied sports science, I gues his professor was Roy Keane. I hate it when they say "he is not that kind of player" damn then who is? Some coaches will deliberately practice how to get the ball away from the opponent in the most brutal mana posible. When a coach tells his players, go get in their faces, kick them a little, disrupt their game. Where does he draw the line btn a little kicking and a broken leg? If u are brave enough to play football, why cant u just go for the ball and that's it. Why do u need a piece of the opponent too?

Posted by Justin on 10/08/2010

Well written. I personally condemn de Jong for his tackle but I will admit bias as a newcastle fan, not to mention his challenges on Stuart Holden and Xabi Alonso. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... Three terrible injury causing challenges within a year requires some sort of investigation. At some point, the player has to be held accountable for his actions, both on and off the pitch, as the media has so publicly condemned Joey Barton. To be fair, Barton hasn't broken two players legs or put a studs first challenge into a players chest on the field to date. Seems at least comperable to the off field shenangigans that Joey has been condemned for...

Posted by Antiviolenttackles on 10/08/2010

These tackles are as horrific to watch to spectators as they are career threatening to players.These tackles are in bad taste priod. Arsene Wenger has been saying this all along and people said he was trying to influence referees. Now Newcastle is crying and can we say they are trying to influence the refs, absolutely NOT. Its like the current case involving Country vs Club, remember van Persie injury while playing for Holland in a friendly and got injured, Wenger voiced his concern but nobody supported him, now we got Robben and Bayern in the same situation. Guys we need to stick together against such things and not wait until you are in the same scenario.

Posted by dan on 10/08/2010

De jong should should appologise to soccer players and fans world wide!

Posted by Prashanth on 10/08/2010

I think tackling has always been an art and always prevalent in the game. However, there's a basic ineptness creeping into this art.

If you tackle while keeping your feet on the ground (i.e. sliding) and miss the ball and/or catch the player, you'll probably sweep the player off his feet and send him tumbling, but not break his leg. However, nowadays tackles are equally fierce, but the feet are perpendicular to the ground, thereby exposing the studs and pointing the feet towards the ankle. Examples - Ramsey, Eduardo. This is extremely dangerous, and managers should make sure they educate players to adopt the former tackling process.

Posted by Gooch on 10/08/2010

Players are so much faster and stronger now that the same tackles that were okay yesterday are far more dangerous today. Which is why a tackle from behind, even if it gets the ball first, is usually determined a foul today.

de Jong similarly got the ball first, but he jumped into the tackle and came in studs up, and he came so fast, that's what made it dangerous.

I think the EPL knows that its world wide popularity is a result of people wanting to watch the big four teams and a relatively open style of football. The 'tough' game and Stoke vs. Blackburn are not so popular, except in England. They have to decide whether it's worth it for them to clamp down.

Posted by francis rangara on 10/08/2010

Shame on Nicol and Smythe (ESPN Soccernet presspas)for claiming that De Jong's tackle on Ben was fair. The likes of De Jong have no business on any soccer pitch. We all saw what he did to Alonso under the full glare of a world audience at the WC finals. He only continued to play because Webb was English. A continental Ref might have taken a dimmer view of the whole affair. I would suggest that a fitting punishment already mentioned elsewhere is that any player who breaks another's leg remains suspended until the injured player returns. That way the likes of De Jong would remain away forever!

Posted by Komesha on 10/08/2010

A very brilliant article.Rugby is a contact sport and football is not.Holding an opponet is a foul so i do not understand the contact context of it.You get the ball and not the man period.The blame lays squarely on FA and the Refs.We have so many incompetent Refs in the EPL.Look at the shameless Haward Web in the WC final. He lost control of the game and ended up giving a record cards in a game. As we always say that the ref is human and can make error, they should not make error judgement always.

The game being physical is guided by the rules and limits.That is why we have fouls for over physicality.Those who support De jong are as brainless as well.
I liked Murphy's comment.He told us exactly what happens.The players are under so much prayer to deliver and the maneger's job is at risk.So anything goes provided the end justifies the means.Sam Aladey and the rest of Showcrsses can sympathise with De jong since that is their trade.FA can continue with the slumber and blind Refs.

Posted by aaron on 10/08/2010

re: Posted by Marc 1 day, 18 hours ago

>I keep hearing 'de Jong played the ball' - SO >WHAT?! Do the rules state that if you get a >piece of the ball then you can proceed to do >anything you like? Of course not. A foul is a >foul before touching the ball AND after >touching the ball

excellent point. Along with the dutch journalist's example, those who claim 'he played the ball' or 'he won the ball' are missing the point entirely. If I go into a store and nick an x-box game, it doesn't matter whether or not I stand in line and pay for an x-box console, I've still nicked the game.

Excellent post, Marc. I agree with you that the players should not be banned for the length of an injury because that is very subjective (ex: if de jong tackles some man utd reserve player, utd would have an incentive to artificially keep the player out of the squad), and wouldn't have been possible in this case anyway. But I feel something more must be done.

Posted by 'Seun on 10/08/2010

It's crazy talk trying to justify De Jong.Hard tackles are permitted in football,bad tackles are not.As long as players fail to draw a distinction between bad and hard tackles,the likes of De Jong would continue to perpetrate their nefarious life threatening and career-climaxing tackles.It has to stop!And now too!

Posted by Adeiza Suleman on 10/08/2010

Nigel De jong is just an animal.only people like van bommel will support him..football is a game of fairplay, enven though there is a lot at stake to be won..is dat lot to be won worth destroying another player's career for?? players like de jong should be given long match ban so that they'll have enuf time to think of their stupidity on the pitch.

Posted by Jordan on 10/09/2010

A well written article especially the Osama bin laden reference. De Jong is a decent player besides those hideous and inexcusable challenges. I still dont understand why he has not been punished at all for his sheer recklessness. Maybe he needs to get a foot to the chest of to the ankles that'll put him out for a bit...its so frustrating to know action has been taken for his stupidity.

Posted by Joel on 10/09/2010

Marc, thanks for the excellent post. After reading Rebecca Lowe's 'Off the Mic' blog this week about the same issue, I was left with a nasty taste in my mouth. Conversely, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your intelligent comments about the issue. First and foremost, how can Atkinson blow the call that bad? Just awful. I think that is the first part of the problem. Second, I agree with you that "he's just not that kind of lad..." seems quite far fetched. I am sure that every football fan saw De Jong's "challenge" on Xabi Alonso in the World Cup Final. Again, just awful. Add to that a laundry list of leg breaking tackles and now you have cause for concern. Congrats to Van Marwijk for acknowledging these atrocities. At least someone out there is still trying to play the beautiful game.

Posted by solomonz on 10/09/2010

de jong had done such terrible tackle many times already, i think a professional athlete should use their skill, experience and passion to play rather than violence. See what he done to Xabi alonzo during the world cup? and when he played with the U.S? FIFA should ban him! We need fair game!!

Posted by niteowl on 10/09/2010

As a dutch fan I'd like to mention that DeJong is not a criminal, and I honestly believe, having seen him play many times, that he never goes out with the intention to hurt a player.

Having said that, he is reckless and I have to agree with the car analogy, ok, he didn't plan to hurt the guy, but if you don't know or you don't care about where opponents you should be responsible for the consequences of reckless challenges

the main problem though is not De Jong, the problem is that in some countries, including England, refs just don't do enough to protect players from reckless goons like De Jong.... a million other dangerous reckless tackles also go unpunished or are soon forgotten (it's not De Jong who broke Eduardo's leg a couple of years ago)
get rid of all the goons and we'll ahve a better game at any level, but the conservative dikheads running the sport don't care about all the injuries, they just watch the games on tv these days anyways

Posted by Lo Sconscuito on 10/09/2010

I like 'the sports car through the village center' analogy. It covers what the real problem is: maybe these players aren't deliberately setting out to opponents, but if they're indifferent to the results of their recklessness, that's a distinction without a difference.

And since play was waved on, de Jong's tackle failed at the most basic level: winning the ball.

Posted by Michael on 10/09/2010

He shouldve been sent off and given a 5 match ban. Ive seen red cards given for backchat!!! This guy snaps a promising young players leg in half and gets away with it! The problem is not just with de jong but with the refs too.

Posted by smitty on 10/09/2010

I've said it many times--the punishment must fit the crime. There are occurrences, albeit rare, where severe injury results from fair play. The FA must use it's discretion in all cases. For the the more egregious offenses, a mandatory 1 to 2 year suspension for reckless tackles that break legs. Period. For example, Shawcross would have gotten a year, De Jong, 2 years. If a club sells a suspended player, fine the club the transfer fee or 25 million pounds--whichever is more.

You'll be amazed how quickly this stops becoming a bi-annual topic of discussion.

Posted by bangus on 10/09/2010

I think players like De Jong should be watch by the referee and punish differently for the kind of game they play.

Posted by Cavan on 10/09/2010

Actually binge drinking, cigarette smoking, tight shorts wearing players from the 70s were ten times more interesting than the modern douche bag clothes wearing, prima donna, soul-less players. Remember that the leagues used to be more competitive too. With teams like Ipswich Town successful during that era. Football has become a business to it's own discredit

Posted by MM on 10/09/2010

Why should it always be De Jong at the centre stage of dirt play? Is he any special that FA or Uefa cant take action againts him? His tackle on Xabi Alonso at the Worl Cup was nasty and i found it strange that FIFA couldnt take any action against him. De Jong should be reminded that we fans pay money to watch football, we dont pay to watch his nasty challenges, thats not our interest. Is he going to take care of his victims families when he cuts their careers short?

Posted by never walk alone on 10/09/2010

i really dont understand why every one is just talking about it. De jong is clearly a PIG, he should be suspended or at least have some consequence to his actions. over all i think every one is forgetting that this player has repeatedly hurt players left and right. iam a fan of hard tackles but that is just disgusting. if he wants to do that kind of s**t he needs to go play american football.

Posted by Kasey on 10/09/2010

The situation with Shawcross is different. He really isn't that type of lad. He regrets going into that challenge, he was punished for it, and he got on with his career. De Jong reportedly was on the same plane back to England with Stuart Holden after cracking his leg. Stuart tweeted that he never got an apology or even any well wishes. De Jong is a monster and needs a lifetime ban.

Posted by natnael on 10/09/2010

Oh my goodness! I am a Man Utd fan and I cannot believe what I'm reading. I bet none of you saw the tackle until it got replayed. De Jong went for a common tackle and Hatem was unfortunate to have a broken leg. There was no ill-intention or excessive force. If I didn't see the game I would think De Jong brought a saw from his garage and cut Hatem's leg in half. Calm down!!! Accidents happen, it's football.

[Why? Was the original tackle different to the replay?!]

Posted by Bob Pickersgill on 10/09/2010

I'm not sure what natnael means by "De Jong went for a common tackle...." but it looked reckless to me and reckless should be punished! A free kick would be a start.

Posted by Ian on 10/09/2010

I'm sure you would feel the same if it was Wayne Rooney and not Ben Arfa?
I think video review has been used to some good although it can do little to reverse the results of games. This game also featured two debatable penalty decisions one was given to City and the other not to NUFC. To me, serious foul play of any sort should be reviewed in the calm of a TV studio on Monday morning by a small panel of judges. In the case where a player has received a serious injury-these tackles should be reviewed also; TV cameras are at all the games so it shouldn't be difficult to implement.
I think the intent behind this tackle was enough to warrant some sort of action-why not a three match ban like it would have been had deJong been shown the red card for dangerous play. I like the idea of a sliding scale of fines and suspensions.
"I played the ball ref" is a pretty weak excuse when you slide right through a player one nano-second afterwards and you break his leg with your trailing leg.

[What part of what I wrote makes you think I would have a different opinion if it was Rooney?]

Posted by mark on 10/09/2010

i guarantee you that had a new castle player done the same tackle to a city player, your stances would be completely different. AND had his leg been fine we wouldn't be discussing this. OR if it was someone with a reputation other than de Jongs we wouldn't be talking about it either.

[But his leg is not fine?!?!]

Posted by sdalmat on 10/09/2010

I love the sports car analogy it was spot on.
De Jong intentionally took out the lad. He slid in from the front studs up, leg straightened and scissored Hatem. That can only lead to injury. Heactualy took out Hatem before he got the ball. Did he mean to break Ben Arfa's leg? Of course not but this is the result of reckless tackles that many English fans sanction and call part of the game. De Jong needs to be banned from the game for a while and has been given a license to commit these barbaric acts by the FA, EUFA and FIFA who take no action serious action against plays and players like him but would readily review Eduardo for simulation. Law 12 of the Laws of the Game clearly defines careless, reckless and excessive force and many tackles in the Prem that fit this classification simply go unpunished. It is time to get tough with these thugs. And we wonder why England hasn't won a trophy since '66.

Posted by Aket Angyu on 10/10/2010

Mark duffy,appearently, you are right...De jong showed no emotions and kept on playing his game as if all was good. Proper disciplinary action should be taken cause Nigel is going to go on and on with this reckless tackles of his as we witnessed in the world cup finals... Newcastle for life (Toon Army)

Posted by Andy Mogaka on 10/10/2010

Exactly what kind of a lad is de Jong? Why dont we just give him a chainsaw and see exactly what he is made of?. But no,we have seen what kind of lad he is,and referees need to clamp down on this kind of play. How many legs need to be broken before we realize that here is a difference between tackling and cleaving meat? I agree with the suggestion that anyone guilty of such tackles serves a ban equivalent to the recovery period of his victim.Then we can begin to appreciate why football is the beautiful game

Posted by Wakayula on 10/10/2010

It was appalling having to listen to Waddle chuckling at Karl Henry's "attempts" on Barton's career (that's what it was, right?). Joey isn't my favorite player in the world given his history, but just how can Mick McCarthy defend his mercenary captain who could have ended another player's career? Mind that wasn't the first time Henry had had a go at another player. Last season he left Tomas Rosicky with a gash on his leg and went on to say Arsenal has a bunch of sissy foreigners! This year he already has the bounty on Zamora's leg. Recall in February this year, Shawcross said he knows "just how to deal with Arsenal's threat". Three days later, Aaron Ramsey had his leg hanging by the skin, and Tony Pulis was singing that tiring He's Not That Kind of Lad anthem. Maybe, God forbid, Rooney should get hacked into two by a foreign player and then something will get done. Maybe it would be a blessing in disguise since Rooney is NOT MY KIND OF LAD.

Posted by Winston on 10/10/2010

There are several things in the game I'd like to see stamped out, such as diving in the penalty area, but it takes a league with a bit of ba*ls.

Start awarding penalties the other way for diving and see how quickly it stops.

Same with injury-causing tackles: make 'em all reviewable after the game, and allow a player 1 per career, particularly if it's deemed reckless. After a second, suspend the player for a season, or for as long as the person he tackled is out of the game. I'd care to bet that would make the Henry's and de Jong's think twice before ploughing in again; and if that makes them less "effective", tough.

Unfortunately, lawyers would probably get involved (restraint of "trade"?) but, just like you don't have the 'right' to drive a car, you shouldn't have the right to play football if you can't do it without injuring other people.

My two-penn'orth, for what it's worth.

Winston

Posted by osakue Johnson on 10/10/2010

Good article,very goog article.If Ben A was an arsenal player, it would have been forgoten.These things just need to happen players like Roony and other English stars so that the FA can wake from their sleep.Football should be played the way it should be played.we dont some animals in the game

Posted by Kyaw Lay Thwai on 10/10/2010

Just get rid of de jong out of beautiful Football.

Posted by E Gomes on 10/10/2010

Excellent article.
I couldn't agree more with tour thoughts, and others.
It seems as if its become ok to kill a guy as long you get a piece of the ball. I'm not sure when this became acceptable, but refs have been letting a lot of stuff go because the ball somehow was knicked. Crazy.

I also wander what all the pundits would be saying if it was Rooney/Gerard/Lamps who got his leg broken.
A different story, I'm sure.

Posted by Stu on 10/10/2010

A limit of red cards and out for the season is a good suggestion. Tackles of the two-footed, studs up variety, must be removed from the game as the highest priority. Yellow and red cards are a part of the game, but first who wants to watch a game where the ref endlessly blows the whistle? and second what kind of example is that setting for the grass-roots? It's certainly not one of skill. And if a limit is set, don't go down the road of Australian Rugby League. Here, an offending player (say for a head-high tackle) goes on report and CONTINUES TO TAKE PART IN THE GAME. After the game, they attend the judiciary with their lawyer. They can plead guilty for a shorter ban (say one match) or plead not guilty and risk a longer ban. Under this system, players think they can get away anything. These people don't understand anything except 'out for the season'. I love the world game, but honestly - 3 match ban? At this level it's a nice rest. How about 3 accumulated reds and see you next season

Posted by Jerry on 10/10/2010

It happened to Eduardo, it happened to Aaron Ramsey etc and now Ben Harfa. Even in Italy when their football is of that physical strength, they don't break players leg all in the name of winning a match. What is the joy of winning a match but leaving a sad memory behind for the viewers? I think the Premiership has to be address before some players turn theirselves to a Karate sportmen. With what is happening in the Premiership, I see some good players resisting an offer from any of the English Club side.

Posted by Luke on 10/10/2010

mancity?...pfffttt

Posted by Dominique Kee on 10/11/2010

As biased as I am about the Magpies, I'm also rather against hooliganism ON THE FIELD. Sh*te happens I'm sure and sometimes, the only explanation is @rse luck.

But when you have that much malice and lack of remorse, something about that screams 'nutter'. De Jong, if you want to put challenges like that in your game, you're better off in the MMA arena. Where you can get your behind rightly stomped.

Malaysian Toon for Life.

Posted by John Smith on 10/11/2010

@Johan Ethu
fantastic, so since you're a man u fan you can judge tackles perfectly! And you can use the "everyone makes bad tackles" case if it's the first, maybe second time, but after Holden, then Xabi Alonso, and now Ben Arfa, there's no reason anybody could ever back up de jong's actions

Posted by christopher on 10/11/2010

excellent article! very well put and spot on..

the question that comes to my mind is, if de jong is 'not that type of lad' then who is or would be?

to me, it only adds insult to injury to have such callous indifference and ridiculous justification of such vile actions. accident or no, it's not been sanctioned on the pitch or off, and regardless of intent, de jong IS 100% responsible and reprehensible.

these types of players detract from the beautiful game, period.

Posted by Lusekelo Mwakalukwa on 10/11/2010

I didn't see the game but De Jong's Kung Fu kick on Xabi Alonso at the World Cup says it all about the type of player he is with his combative style of play.

Posted by Joseph From Nigeria on 10/11/2010

De JONG Or DE DONG OR DOG..DID THIS SAME THING TO XAVI ALONSO... HE SHOULD TAKE FOOTBALL AS A GAME AND NOT A FIGHT....

Posted by lalok_gunners on 10/11/2010

@natnael

there is no such things as accident or intent in football.
if u accidentally do a foul the ref still will penalized u, isnt it??
u should look again his tackle, clearly he used EXCESSIVE FORCE.
i dont think it's only reckless.
he should be punished heavily.
at least 10 match ban.
moreover the tackle is unnecessary.

i agree with Antiviolenttackles.
when wenger says anything about bad tackles many people say him a whiner or to influences the refrees.
im not defending him coz im a gunners fan but what happen now??
it's only early of the season and there are a lot of players broke their leg.
valencia, zamora and now hatem.
in valecia's case can be said as unfortunate coz the tackles not even reckless.
but what about others?
i dont think it's unfortunate.
it's clearly reckless or excessive force tackles!!
FIFA must do something about this or maybe there'll be another 10 players will have their leg broken....

Posted by Mr Greaves on 10/11/2010

Great article mate.
Agree with everything you've said other than Joey Barton.
Joey Barton has a disgusting history of bad tackles and in general is not fit to wear the shirt of any EPL team
The Etuhu tackle comes to mind

Posted by jimmy on 10/11/2010

there is a fine line between an aggresive tackle and a stupid tackle. we all know which one de jong's tackle fall into. is it coincidence that de jong makes this sort of tackles again? look at his tackle on xabi alonso. was that a tackle made by a professional football player? people always condemn Paul Scholes for his tackle but what about Nigel de Jong??? a good combative robust defensive player should be like claude makelele or gattuso, not de jong. shame on you.

Posted by De Jong Fan on 10/11/2010

well the ABMC (anybody but Man city) fans are out and about i see.
I'm not a man city fan and hence I didn't see the game or the tackle until i read this review, hence a quick check on youtube.
Yes it is terrible the poor lad is out for a season and yes De jong should have been sent off in the world cup final, but there was nothing wrong with the tackle!!!
He didn't show his studs, he didn't miss the ball, he didn't aim for his leg.
Overall the lad was unlikely to break his leg when 99% of the time the player would have just gotten up and the commentary would be saying what a great tackle.
Yea are just latching onto his bad tackle in the world cup and the fact the player broke his leg.

[I dont think Man City are a successful enough club (yet) to fit into the 'anyone but' category]

Posted by jacob sander on 10/11/2010

if we start giving longer bans, more people will start to dive,isnt that exactly what were trying to prevent!

Posted by Jim on 10/11/2010

'ABMC'...? That's got to be some record that a club has an 'anyone but' tag assigned to it even before they have won anything. In fact, it's 34 years since city won a trophy, and that was the league cup. Something hat mancini deemed was beneath even his 'elite squad' this season as he sent his third team out to get beat. city are going to have to withstand a hell of a lot of hate when they start mopping up the trophies that the sheikh billions will inevitably deliver. Would the reaction have been different if De Jong was English, or played for another team? I'm not sure, it's because he has serious previous on this sort of thing, his own international manager codemned him (very damning even if van Marlwijk is probably trying to clean house after that world cup final), and that it was on a young foreign talented player who has come to England to rebuild his career (there's going to be less of that except at mercenary city) only to be chopped down for the season. People have had enough

Posted by sani inuwa umar on 10/11/2010

DE JONG your tackling is too bad pleas you have to change if you forget will remind you is football your playing not fight or war and plays you have know DE JONG IS jeopardy............................

Posted by sani inuwa umar on 10/11/2010

Posted by maxmillian emeka on 10/11/2010

am an arsenal fan from nigeria when my boss cry for this unfair tackle it looks as if he is influencing the official thank God is a daily occurance,this type of footballers should be made to pay by giving them a strict punishment to discourage others

Posted by Mubeen on 10/11/2010

PL referees are really bad these past few seasons... really bad. and this proves it!!

Posted by aaron on 10/11/2010

go to hell de jong...let see how's he goimg to tackle the devils..suck de jong!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Dejongs Third Leg on 10/11/2010

Whining pansies the lot of you, it is a contact sport get over it, or go to Spain or Italy. Play netball or touch league.

Hard tackle, unlucky contact, tackle was clean

Breaking legs in the hot hot sun,
You fought DeJong and Dejong won
You fought DeJong and Dejong won!

[Well, I think that last paragraph just about says it all.....]

Posted by Fadhel on 10/12/2010

to Jaime:
"As well as players, the clubs need to be held responsible. Longer bans for 2nd, 3rd, 4th red cards of the season need to happen. Even as far as a season ban for 5 red cards in one season (Lee Catamole would be due to make his return in 2045). However what ever the ban is, it doesn't remove the fact that NUFC are down to 24 players in there premier league squad for the rest of the season and Man City go un punished! A radical idea may be for Man City to loan NUFC a player of our choice until Ben Arfa can return. "

You are right, maybe NUFC should get Nigel De Jong for the rest of the year!!!!

Posted by Fair Hooker on 10/12/2010

An absolute criminal element that has to be banned from the game. No other way to look at it. This guy and his pal Van Bommel are menaces and would be suspended in any league of any sport that had proper commissioners in place. But the FA is a Victorian organization that is allowing itself to be done in again by another Jack the Ripper in the person of De Jong.

Posted by JK on 10/12/2010

Maybe the city fans will come to their senses when they saw Adam Johnson's leg broken into 2 pieces this week.

Posted by Pierre Vu on 10/12/2010

FIFA should ban the " KUNGFU" player and let him know that "KUNGFU" is not for soccer. That "DIRTY" player should not be playing soccer anyway.

Posted by henry on 10/12/2010

Its Wenger's kid legs that are fragile/read break// why is everyone quiet about what he has always said. you all are crippy fools.

[I've been racking my brain and yes, I think that is the first time I have ever been called a 'cripply fool']

Posted by ME on 10/12/2010

Agree with the posting. In addition, the Prem League should do more to protect goal keepers. I routinely see some player clatter into a keeper only to see no foul called. It brings to mind the ugly incident when Cech got kneed in the head by Hunt. Totally unnecessary and could have paralized the guy.

Posted by Ian on 10/12/2010

This is a comment on one of yours - and I don;t wish it to be published

re this commment:Posted by Ian 3 days, 2 hours ago

about Wayne Rooney.

I should have been clearer I wasn't insinuating anything from your original article which I enjoyed. My comment was directed at the Man U fan (natneal?). It is clearly a polarizing topic and I'm fairly sure that most supporters would be unhappy had they lost a player like Ben Arfa to such a tackle. Were it Rooney or Gerrard prior to England's games there would have been a bigger fuss.

Posted by Gunners on 10/13/2010

I remember Van Persie was sent off in a champions league match when his boots met the head of the opponent. There was no malice at all as the ball comes in high, he raise his boots to meet it but the defender comes in from behind and tried to head it away. It as unfortunate / no intention at all but its still a red as the ref saw it as dangerous play. But those tackles by K Henry and DeJOng was far worse than that as they obviously know that they will injured the player but somehow gets away with it a lot of time. worse still gets backing by some blo0dy so called professionals.

Posted by R.B. on 10/13/2010

I for one thought it was a foul watching it in real time. Wake up ref?

I wonder why players like van bommel get away with so many fouls in a game without being punished at all and other players make one foul and get booked.

Nevertheless, i think some players (van bommel and de jong included) are of a mould where they don't care if they injure a player. This needs to be stamped out!

[sorry that my examples are both dutch, just a coincidence]

Posted by Goodluck Lyimo FROM SHINYANGA on 10/13/2010

Of couse this kind of Challenge come from De jong's, the one who continous doing that kind of tackling should be bunned for life on playing football. we fans like to watch game but not to see one loosing his carea. this happen to De Jong's next will be Michael Essien.

Posted by atko on 10/14/2010

@ peter anderson,
although the tackle was overzealous i agree it doesnt merit the classification of de jong as a thug, however what does disgust me is that he obviously doesnt feel any remorse for it, no apology to ben arfa, high fiving team mates after the tackle. I think this is why people are angry, and why he is justifiably branded a thug. also seeing as no more action is being taken on account of the ref seeing the incident, i will be following which matches martin atkinson gets, if he receives no punishment or demotion then for me the FA has lost the plot and should have a massive cleanout. I'll also watch how he refs and his performance for the newkie mancaster match was ridiculously baised towards mc. Clanger after clanger and nothing changes with fa. They made a right gaffe with the capello contract, absolutely robbed us fans with kit sale deals, free shirts if we win so support the team, then change the kit right after the wc, now the handling of these 'hard tackles'..disgrac

Posted by Kevin Francis on 10/14/2010

nigel de jong should be banned for for some months,i mean that guy has broken 3 legs and almost cut alonso's chest in 2

Posted by AndyRT on 10/14/2010

Someonce once said Theo Walcott doesnt have a footballing brain....I say Nigel de Jong doesnt have a brain at all...his tackle was a stupid stupid one..How i wish Roy Keane was still playing the game so that he can give de Jong a taste of his own medicine..

Posted by Sean on 10/15/2010

I'd like to see Karl Henry and Nigel de Jong go head to head. Fibulas will explode!

Posted by A Spence on 10/15/2010

"Who would be a ref" is a common saying and Martin Atkinson certainly isn't. There has been some bad refereeing over the years but really, that performance has to go down as the worst ever in the premier league. Blatant penalties turned down, marginal penalties given without the slightest hesitation or consultation, and maniacal tackles unpunished.
What is the point of having linesman if they either take no action when they see the infringements, or are not consulted anyway. I agree, it is a big ask to be a referee but surely they should not be making blatant errors like they did in this game. Let Man City provide a player to compensate Newcastle for their huge loss. That wont happen of course because that would take someone with courage and vision to sanction it and make a sensible and just change to the laws of the game. If the tackle is considered unfortunate fair enough, but anyone with any sense can see that was totally unnacceptable. Yet even King Kev said it was okay. Amazing!

Posted by shane on 10/15/2010

really good article, i'm an arsenal fan and also a fan a really skillful football that is played by only a few so i'm usually getting pissed at these incidents because arsenal and teams i like are generally on the bad end of these, the solution is longer bans but not the length of the injury, 10 game ban is perfectly suitable for tackles like this, i think some guy in belgium got a 10 match ban for breaking someones leg and that was totally fair to me (intent doesn't matter, you break the leg you sit out 10 games regardless)

Posted by Aussie_Geordie on 10/16/2010

I simply feel the EPL needs a tribunal system. With one on-field ref he obviously can't see everything as was evident here..If you conduct yourself in reckless fashion the tribunal sets a ban or suspended ban making the players wary of continual disgraceful actions..!!

Posted by feygooner on 10/16/2010

Great article.

People who say that he just went for a common ball are missing the point. The sports car analogy is perfect; de Jong went in with excessive force (driving at 150 km/h), and in most cases he wouldn't have hurt anyone (you generally don't knock over people), but sometimes you break some legs (or worse, if you're at 150 km/h).

Also, people seem to have a perception that de Jong and Henry are "those kind of players" but Shawcross is not, because he cried after he snapped Ramsey's leg into two and called his mummy. Well, Shawcross IS that kind of player; he's a 22 year old who has broken Francis Jeffer's legs, Ramsey's legs, put Adebayor out for weeks with a malicious tackle when the ball was out of play (yup, you read that right) and then comes out and tells everyone that he's not going to change the way he plays.

There's an art to tackling, but players like Henry (who is probably the worst of the lot), de Jong and Shawcross don't seem to realise that.

Posted by cross on 10/16/2010

Careers are ended with such ridiculous tackles and de jong should know better, he has done it before and was not punished heavily for it. It is high time extra measures are taken by the football body to ensure that such malicious tackles are not repeated in the near future. Just like I said, it is one tackle too much for de jong

Posted by Peter on 10/17/2010

Of all the stuff written about this incident, I think this blog is the best I've read. De Jong is a nutjob and deserves at least a suspension if not an outright ban. In addition, Newcastle and Marseille should receive some sort of financial compensation from City.

Posted by Colm on 10/17/2010

De Jong's tackles are just the predictable sympton of a league that's dominated by media personalities who think that as long as the tackler gets a 'touch' on the ball first, he can do whatever he pleases to the player with the ball. Until that changes, players like De Jong are going to exploit the hesitancy of English referees to call the game as it's meant to be played.

Posted by Jim on 10/18/2010

De Jong is garbage. I love this game and players like him ruin the beauty of it. They make the game about themselves. They takle dirty because they are not good enough to make a name for themselves by the way they actually play the game. I hope he is banned. He is just giving City an even worse reputation than they already have.

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