In the 2010 World Cup final, Nigel de Jong planted his boot in Xabi Alonso's chest, karate style. One billion people were watching on television. The referee showed him a yellow card. It was the most violent foul ever seen in a World Cup final, and he stayed on the pitch.
The referee was Howard Webb, and he later admitted he should have sent de Jong off.
Was the 2010 final the dirtiest ever?
Plenty of people call it that, and de Jong was its main villain. It fitted a pattern. He seriously injured Stuart Holden with a tackle that broke his leg, and during his time in the Premier League he was involved in several more tackles that could have ended careers.
The Dutch defensive midfielder played from 2002 to 2019 for Ajax, Hamburg, Manchester City, AC Milan, LA Galaxy, Galatasaray, Mainz and Al-Ahli.
If that kick had happened in a bar, he would have been arrested. On a World Cup final pitch, in front of one billion people, it earned him a yellow card. Football's justice system could use some work.
Tomorrow: villain number 16.
