Dutch drop De Jong after Ben Arfa break

Man City: Midfielder Nigel De Jong has been dropped from the Holland squad as a result of his tackle which broke Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa's leg on Sunday.

De Jong went in hard on the French winger during the Barclays Premier League game at Eastlands, with tests later in the day revealing Ben Arfa had suffered a broken tibia and fibula to his left leg.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk expressed his concern at the tackle yesterday morning and then followed up with a later statement which revealed the extent of his dismay.

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The statement read: “I just informed the squad and told them I saw no other possibility.

“In the near future I will discuss this matter with Nigel but right now we have to focus on the upcoming two matches.”

Van Marwijk described De Jong’s challenge as “wild and unnecessary” even though match referee Martin Atkinson did not even award a foul at the time in a match City won 2-1.

“I’ve seen the pictures back,” Van Marwijk said. “It was a wild and unnecessary offence. He went in much too hard.

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“It is unfortunate, especially since he does not need to do it.

“The funny thing is that the referee did not even show a yellow card for it.

“But I have a problem with the way Nigel needlessly looks to push the limit. I am going to speak to him.”

It is not the first time the 25-year-old has come under the microscope for his aggressive play, having caused Bolton’s United States midfielder Stuart Holden a fractured right fibula on international duty in March and then got away with a chest-high challenge on Spain’s Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final.