A Webb of yellow cards

JOHANNESBURG – World Cup Final referee Howard Webb did not have a perfect game, by his own exacting standards.Webb booked 13 different players and sent off John Heitinga after showing The Netherlands defender a second yellow card in extra time of their 1-0 loss to Spain.The English referee did not show a second yellow card to Spain defender Carles Puyol when he appeared to impede Arjen Robben in the 82nd minute, opting to allow Robben to play on and attempt to score.Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said he didn’t think Webb controlled the game well.“I don’t look at referees but if I look at the . . . chance of Arjen then he should have given a second yellow too,” Van Marwijk said.Webb, who also refereed the Champions League final, said before the game he wanted to have a calming influence on the action.He described his perfect game as one when “nobody is speaking about the officials, and they are speaking about the excellent game of football and the skill of the players”.The 14 yellow cards, one leading to a red, was a record for a World Cup final, beating the six collected by Argentina and West Germany players in 1986.At the final whistle, Netherlands midfielders Mark Van Bommel and Wesley Sneijder headed directly toward the 38-year-old former policeman.Robben, who was booked for protesting that he was fouled by Puyol, joined in as defender Joris Mathijsen rushed over to gesticulate angrily at the referee. They appeared to be upset at a decision which indirectly led to Spain’s winning goal.From a Dutch free kick, Sneijder’s shot was deflected wide but Webb awarded a goal kick and Spain broke forward to score through Andres Iniesta.Webb was subjected to more Dutch derision when he went to collect his cup final medal.A chorus of jeers and whistles rained down from the stands when Webb led his assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey to receive their gifts from South Africa President Jacob Zuma and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.Webb was awarded control of the final after near-faultless handling of three previous games, in which he showed 17 yellow cards. He was widely praised for his player-management skills. (AP)