Bert van Marwijk Criticises Referee

Bert van Marwijk has criticised English referee Howard Webb after his side lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final last night.

The match was marred by a series fouls, yellow cards and a sending off, Dutchman Johnny Heitinga was given his marching orders during extra time which saw Holland go down to ten men.

Webb brandished thirteen yellow cards throughout the match between the two European sides who were both looking to win the World Cup for the very first time.

Speaking to the BBC after the match van Marwijk said: "I don't think the referee controlled the match well. Both sides committed fouls. That may be regrettable for a final. But the best team won the match.

We made a real game out of it and we had two great chances through Arjen.I'm not someone to look back on what the referee did. I think the best team usually wins the match.

"But if you look at the second chance of Robben, the referee should give Puyol a second yellow card, which would have meant him being sent off.

"It was a crucial moment just before the end of the 90 minutes. It is very bitter, but that is sport. It is harsh. And as I said, Spain were the better team."

Nine booking went the way of the Dutch and Webb was booed by the Holland fans as he collected his medal at the end of the match.

But the match could have gone a lot worse for Holland and they were lucky to have ten men on the pitch by half time when de Jong landed his boot into the chest of Xabi Alonso, which only resulted in a yellow card.

Mark van Bommel, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben were all given yellow card throughout the match and Johnny Heitinga was dismissed in extra time for a second bookable offence against Iniesta.