Webb - No regrets over final

English referee Howard Webb insists he was satisfied with his handling of Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Holland.

The Yorkshireman, who has come under fire for his display in the Johannesburg clash, arrived home from South Africa on Tuesday with his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey.

Webb dished out 14 yellow cards during Spain's 1-0 win, including two to Holland's Everton defender John Heitinga which resulted in his sending off, and has attracted criticism from both the Dutch and Spanish camps.

But the Rotherham official has said in a statement released through the Premier League that he and his assistants did the best job they could have done.

Satisfied

"Whatever the match, you always hope that the officials won't need to be heavily involved. However, we had to raise our profile in order to keep control,"said Webb.

"We don't feel that we had much choice except to manage the game in the way we did. We came away feeling satisfied that we'd done a tough job in difficult circumstances to the best of our abilities.

"It was an extremely challenging match to handle, but it would have been so for any referee. It is one of the toughest games we will ever be involved in and we feel that we worked hard to keep the focus on the football as much as possible."

He added:"From early on in the match we had to make decisions that were clear yellow cards. We tried to apply some common sense officiating given the magnitude of the occasion for both sides - advising players early on for some of their tackling, sending players away when they were surrounding the officials, and speaking to their senior colleagues to try to calm them down.

"Mike and Darren made some terrific calls and I thought the decisions made by my team throughout the tournament were excellent. It's because of the quality of the teamwork that we were appointed to the final. We leave the tournament pleased with how we performed, honoured to be given the final and privileged to have met so many wonderful people in South Africa."

Webb also expressed his gratitude for support shown by followers in England, and for being granted the experience in South Africa.

Honour

He said:"It was a marvellous honour to have been selected for the tournament and we had a wonderful six weeks in South Africa. The people made us feel really welcome and we've hugely enjoyed the experience of being involved in such an incredible and unique event. We left the 2010 World Cup with amazing memories.

"We have been overwhelmed by the support of the public, the media, friends, colleagues, players and managers before and after the final. It was a massive honour and a privilege to take charge of the World Cup final. It is something every referee dreams of and to fulfil that dream was a remarkable feeling.

"We're all looking forward to a little bit of a rest and then coming back fresh for the new Premier League season."

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