Howard Webb

I feel sorry for Howard Webb.

Having to ref a World Cup Final of foulers and divers, doing his best not to send anyone off and then he gets hammered for not doing a great job. Could anyone have done a top job reffing that final?

If Arjen Robben took one of the gift wrapped chances he received then Holland win the final, Arjen is a hero. Instead he transfers his failure to convert to the supposed failure of the Webb to send off Carlos Puyol for holding Robben back during chance #2.

I haven't heard any complaints from the Dutch about the fact that Nigel de Jong was still on the field despite tackling Xabi Alonso's chest (when he was standing) with sprigs in the first half or Webb's leniency in not giving a second yellow to Robben when he kicked the ball away after being called for offside late in the match.

Sure, Webb could have made some different calls but he could also have made it a 11 v 10 man game much earlier.

That so much has been made of Webb's performance reflects the state of officiating in the world of football right now - to much pressure placed on the man in the middle with no technological support in a sport that is extremely fast with varying levels of player contact and plenty of divers.

FIFA need to urgently review and then overhaul how the game is reffed.