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Sneijder and Van Persie hit out at Howard Webb


Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie lashed out at referee Howard Webb for 'robbing' Holland's dream of becoming world champions.

The pair led a chorus of Dutch criticism against the English official following Spain's win in the World Cup final on Sunday, achieved through a late goal by Andres Iniesta that was hotly disputed.

Holland feel agrieved by what they see as at least three mistakes by Webb and his assistants in the run-up to the extra-time winner.

'He has robbed us,' said Sneijder, who was denied the accolade of adding football's greatest prize to medals this season for winning the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup with Inter Milan.

'This really is a disgrace to football. It really shouldn't have happened.

'First I shot a free kick that hit the wall and then the Spanish keeper touched it before going behind. What does the referee do? The whistle was not for a corner.

'In the following attack, Iniesta is at first offside. Webb doesn't whistle and then Iniesta gets the ball and scores.

'And earlier there was a moment with Iniesta, he kicked Van Bommel when the ball was not there. The fourth official saw the moment and he said, "Yeah, I saw it". I think if you saw it it's a red card.'

'That's three incidents in a short space of time. It is a scandal it has to end this way.

'I won three titles (this season) and now I lost tonight the fourth title. 'It's a pity but I think we can be proud of it, the whole country.'

Arsenal striker Van Persie - who will soon come face-to-face with Webb again in the Premier League - was equally scathing about an official who had earlier sent off Holland's Johnny Heitinga for a second bookable offence, but spared Iniesta the same punishment.

'What was this man doing,' said the striker of Webb. 'He made three big errors in extra time of a World Cup final. Believe me, this really hurts.

'Even after Heitinga's red card I still felt we could be world champions. With penalty kicks we'd at least have a 50 per cent chance.

'He whistled four minutes from time, but not for a corner, and later overlooks Iniesta being in an offside position.

'Iniesta should not have been on the pitch because he kicked Van Bommel. He also should have shown (Carles) Puyol a second yellow card for trying to knock down (Arjen) Robben.

'I don't say it's only down to the referee. We missed a very good chance. But the referee has been decisive.

'Perhaps it was because Spain were wronged in a group match against Switzerland (which Webb refereed)? Let me say nothing.'

www.dailymail.co.uk


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