Dutch federation hits back at Robben dive reports

The Dutch Football Association on Monday hit back at reporting of comments by Arjen Robben on the penalties he claimed in the World Cup victory over Mexico. The association, the KNVB, said Robben’s comments, in which he admitted diving to try and get a penalty in the first half, were interpreted “completely wrong”. It added that Robben would make a statement later in the day. “KNVB is unpleasantly suprised by publications in the media about the Dutch penalty in the match versus Mexico,” read a statement. “Media have interpreted statements from Robben in a Dutch post match interview completely wrong,” it added. The 30-year-old Bayern Munich star won a penalty injury time that was converted by Jan-Klaas Huntelaar to win the match 2-1. Robben said after the game he had dived in a bid to get a penalty in the first half but that he was definitely fouled in injury time when he fell after a challenge by Mexico captain Rafael Marquez. Robben apologized for his action in the first half. “In a studio interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS, the forward stated that the decision of the referee to give a penalty in the second half of the game was perfectly right,” said the KNVB. “However, in the same interview Robben referred to two situations earlier in the match (first half), when he was brought down. The striker stated that in one of those situations he should have been granted a penalty, but that in the other case he was falling too easily.” Robben has long been accused of being a serial diver and last season engaged in an angry war of words with Arsene Wenger after the Arsenal coach lost his cool on English television following the Champions League game with Bayern Munich. “Robben is very good at getting something out of nothing, he’s a good diver, but that’s part of his game,” Wenger said after Bayern eliminated Arsenal at the last 16 stage in March. “I expect more of great managers, they don’t need to resort to claims like that,” Robben respondend. AFP