Former English Premier League referees have jumped to the defense of Howard Webb after criticism of his performance in Sunday's World Cup final.
JOHANNESBURG -- For all the controversy and the perceived injustices, for all the bad fouls and dubious decisions, for all the aesthetic/ideological debates about Spain being boring and the Dutch being nasty (or vice versa, if you will), it came down to this:
FIFA have named Howard Webb as the referee for Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands at Soccer City, Johannesburg on Sunday.
Manchester United substitute Michael Owen broke Manchester City hearts with a dramatic winning goal deep into injury-time at Old Trafford on Sunday, but Chelsea stayed top of the English Premier League with a 3-0 crushing of London rivals Tottenham.
Egypt filed a protest to FIFA on Tuesday after Brazi'ls controversial injury time winner in their Confederations Cup opener in Bloemfontein.
Kaka converted a penalty in time added on to give holders Brazil a dramatic 4-3 win over Egypt who filed an official complaint after their Confederations Cup opener at Bloemfontein on Monday.
Australian Tim Cahill dealt Liverpool a desperate and potentially damaging blow with the goal that salvaged a 1-1 draw for bitter rivals Everton and stopped the Reds returning to the top of the Premier League.
Holders Portsmouth booked their place in the English FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 victory at Bristol City that lifted some of the pressure on new manager Tony Adams.
Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off and skipper Cesc Fabregas suffered a worrying knee problem as Arsenal battled to hold Premier League leaders Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Dani Guiza and Ruben de la Red scored second-half goals Wednesday to rally Spain to a 2-1 win over defending champions Greece at the European Championship.
While the Dutch continue to reinvent 'The Beautiful Game', France's woes continue. And it's mixed fortunes for the tournament's hosts
Austrian veteran Ivica Vastic levelled three minutes into injury time to earn the co-hosts a 1-1 against Poland in Group B in Vienna, after referee Howard Webb awarded them a controversial late penalty.
Owen Hargreaves curled in a superb free-kick, 18 minutes from time, to give Manchester United a 2-1 Premier League victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has escaped punishment for his alleged headbutt on team-mate Nicklas Bendtner, the English Football Association have announced.
English FA officials have requested television footage of a clash between Arsenal team-mates Emmamuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner during the 5-1 Carling Cup semifinal defeat at Tottenham on Tuesday.
Manchester City's perfect Premier League home record bit the dust amid huge controversy as Roque Santa Cruz scored twice to earn Blackburn a 2-2 draw at Eastlands.
England's Football Association is awaiting League Cup final referee Howard Webb's official report of the brawl near the end of Sunday's clash in Cardiff.
It will be FA Cup final heartache for West Ham's Hayden Mullins and Luis Garcia of Liverpool after having appeals against three-match bans rejected by the English FA on Friday.
Newcastle United's former England striker Alan Shearer has escaped disciplinary action by the Football Association after he appeared to elbow Everton defender David Weir during the Premier League game at Goodison Park on Sunday.
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